International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) on Friday announced that it will not take any action against the Israeli football clubs based in illegal settlements and that it will remain “neutral” on political issues.
This was voiced in a statement on the FIFA official website following the FIFA Council meeting in Kolkata city.
FIFA said “Given that the final status of the West Bank territories is the concern of the competent international public law authorities the FIFA Council agrees that FIFA in line with the general principle established in its Statutes must remain neutral with regard to political matters.”
“It was agreed that any interference by FIFA in the status quo of football in the relevant territories without the consent of the parties concerned might aggravate the situation of football not only in the territories in
According to the statement the FIFA Council decided to refrain from imposing any sanctions or other measures on the Israeli or Palestinian Football Association and declared the matter closed.
FIFA pointed out that it will continue to facilitate the movement of players officials and football equipment in and out of Palestine.
Observers believe that FIFA’s statement has closed the door on Palestinians’ calls on FIFA led by the Palestinian Football Association to ban Israeli matches in the occupied West Bank settlements.
The FIFA statutes say that a member country’s teams cannot play matches
There are six Israeli clubs in the West Bank based in the Jewish settlements of Ma’ale Adumim Ariel Kiryat Arba Giv’at Ze’ev Bik’at
