Middle East football bodies urge FIFA to ban Israel from competition over Gaza conflict, with a letter led by Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein. Israel responds by asking FIFA to keep politics out of football, as they focus on qualifying for Euro 2024. The situation is compared to FIFA’s ban on Russia after Ukraine’s invasion, and Israel’s historical exclusion from Asian tournaments is noted.
Middle Eastern football associations have called for Israel to be banned from international competitions via a letter addressed to FIFA and UEFA. Led by Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein of Jordan and representing 12 nations, including Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, the letter condemns the violence in Gaza and urges action against the Israeli Football Association. It specifically mentions the impact on civilians and football infrastructure, demanding a unified response from the global football community.
In response, Israel’s football authority has urged FIFA to resist political influence in sports, as their men’s team seeks qualification for the 2024 European Championship. Israeli FA CEO Niv Goldstein emphasized focusing solely on football, stating, “I am trusting FIFA not to involve politics in football” and expressing hopes for world peace.
The letter highlights a previous FIFA decision to ban Russia following its military actions against Ukraine, emphasizing the disparity between Israel’s situation and others. Historically, Israel faced isolation in the Asian Football Confederation before joining UEFA in 1994. Israel has never qualified for a UEFA competition and currently prepares for a playoff against Iceland.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
