FIFA puts off decision on suspending Israel

World football governing body, FIFA, has delayed a decision on a Palestinian bid to suspend Israel from international football.

“An independent legal assessment of the Palestinian Football Association proposals against the Israel Football Association was due to be provided to FIFA Council by 20 July 2024,” FIFA said in a statement.

“Following requests for an extension from both parties to submit their respective positions, duly granted by FIFA, more time is needed to conclude this process with due care and completeness,” it added.

FIFA added that the assessment will be shared with the FIFA Council for any subsequent decision no later than 31 August.

Accordingly the Israeli national football team can play at the Paris Olympics that will start on 26 July. The men’s Olympic gold medal match will be held on 9 August.

In May, during the 74th Congress in Bangkok, the Palestinian Football Association’s President Jibril Rajoub called for the immediate suspension of Israel from the world governing body for football, saying: “How much more must the Palestine football family suffer for FIFA to act with the same severity and urgency as it did in other cases?”

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip in October and has killed or injured more than 128,000 Palestinians, while tens of thousands more are believed dead having been trapped under the rubble.

READ: Israel must be suspended for violating FIFA statutes, say human rights lawyers