Head of Palestinian Football Association condemns FIFA decision to dismiss anti-Israel resolution
Headline: “Rajoub: FIFA’s decision on the clubs from the settlements violates the laws of international sport; we will turn to the Court of Arbitration for Sports together with a team of lawyers and experts”
“[Fatah Central Committee Secretary and Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association] Jibril Rajoub held a press conference at the Palestinian Football Association headquarters conference hall in Al-Ram, in which he spoke about the FIFA decision and its duty to maintain neutrality regarding the clubs from the settlements (F IFA rejected a PFA request to sanction Israel over Israeli clubs playing in the West Bank –Ed.). Rajoub began his speech by saying that ‘we [stand] today before a real problem, which is connected to the latest FIFA decision – a decision that completely contradicts FIFA’s laws and regulations, and also contradicts the recommendations of the FIFA congress’ appointed committee. This is contempt for the decisions of the [UN] Security Council…’ Rajoub continued: ‘FIFA is shirking its responsibility in the latest topic, and in recent years the new FIFA president has tried to stall and avoid this topic.’”
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Rajoub made these comments following the FIFA Council's announcement on Oct. 27, 2017 that it had decided to reject the Palestinian Football Association's (PFA) request to sanction Israel. Since FIFA's Israel-Palestine Monitoring Committee was created to examine only the claims of the PFA against Israel, it would appear that while rejecting the Palestinian claim, FIFA's Council attributed considerable weight to the complaint submitted by Palestinian Media Watch against the PFA and its president Rajoub for glorifying and inciting terror, for racism and Antisemitism. FIFA therefore decided to "refrain from imposing any sanctions or other measures on either the Israel FA or the Palestinian FA, as well as from requesting any other FIFA body to do so. The matter is declared closed..." [FIFA Council statement, Oct. 27, 2017]
Rajoub also holds the following positions: Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Sport and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).
“[Fatah Central Committee Secretary and Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association] Jibril Rajoub held a press conference at the Palestinian Football Association headquarters conference hall in Al-Ram, in which he spoke about the FIFA decision and its duty to maintain neutrality regarding the clubs from the settlements (F IFA rejected a PFA request to sanction Israel over Israeli clubs playing in the West Bank –Ed.). Rajoub began his speech by saying that ‘we [stand] today before a real problem, which is connected to the latest FIFA decision – a decision that completely contradicts FIFA’s laws and regulations, and also contradicts the recommendations of the FIFA congress’ appointed committee. This is contempt for the decisions of the [UN] Security Council…’ Rajoub continued: ‘FIFA is shirking its responsibility in the latest topic, and in recent years the new FIFA president has tried to stall and avoid this topic.’”
Click to view bulletin
Rajoub made these comments following the FIFA Council's announcement on Oct. 27, 2017 that it had decided to reject the Palestinian Football Association's (PFA) request to sanction Israel. Since FIFA's Israel-Palestine Monitoring Committee was created to examine only the claims of the PFA against Israel, it would appear that while rejecting the Palestinian claim, FIFA's Council attributed considerable weight to the complaint submitted by Palestinian Media Watch against the PFA and its president Rajoub for glorifying and inciting terror, for racism and Antisemitism. FIFA therefore decided to "refrain from imposing any sanctions or other measures on either the Israel FA or the Palestinian FA, as well as from requesting any other FIFA body to do so. The matter is declared closed..." [FIFA Council statement, Oct. 27, 2017]
Rajoub also holds the following positions: Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Sport and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).
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