Hosts on official PA TV discuss the participation of football teams from the “illegal Israeli settlements” in international games, saying it “contradicts every accepted custom and all of the laws”
Official PA TV program Palestine This Morning, on the Palestinian national football team rising in the FIFA rankings, hosting official PA TV sports program host Muhammad Alawi
Official PA TV host: “If we talk about the issue concerning the participation of [football] teams from the illegal Israeli settlements, as they have been recognized [as such] in the international arena, ...what is [the significance of] this issue regarding the teams from the settlements that are participating in the international games?”
Official PA TV sports program host Muhammad Alawi: “This issue is an old and new issue, but we must not forget this issue, and it needs to be fully present at every festive sporting event as it constitutes a danger. The participation of these clubs that are settlement clubs in the Israeli league contradicts every accepted custom and all of the laws, whether they are sports [laws] or international [laws]. His Honor Major-General [Fatah Central Committee Secretary and Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association] Jibril Rajoub raises this topic at every meeting and at every gathering of the FIFA Congress, in every country where there is an international presence of all of the pillars of world football. These clubs must be removed or expelled from the Israeli league… Unfortunately FIFA is held hostage by politicians who do as they please with it. The last time this issue came up, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and it was as if he was warning [him] indirectly that if he discussed this issue and these clubs were removed from the Israeli league, this would be liable to cause the destruction of FIFA… Unfortunately, these matters continue as they are, but there will be a petition to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is the highest legal court, so that it will take care of the issue and decide on it.”
Jibril 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).
Official PA TV host: “If we talk about the issue concerning the participation of [football] teams from the illegal Israeli settlements, as they have been recognized [as such] in the international arena, ...what is [the significance of] this issue regarding the teams from the settlements that are participating in the international games?”
Official PA TV sports program host Muhammad Alawi: “This issue is an old and new issue, but we must not forget this issue, and it needs to be fully present at every festive sporting event as it constitutes a danger. The participation of these clubs that are settlement clubs in the Israeli league contradicts every accepted custom and all of the laws, whether they are sports [laws] or international [laws]. His Honor Major-General [Fatah Central Committee Secretary and Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association] Jibril Rajoub raises this topic at every meeting and at every gathering of the FIFA Congress, in every country where there is an international presence of all of the pillars of world football. These clubs must be removed or expelled from the Israeli league… Unfortunately FIFA is held hostage by politicians who do as they please with it. The last time this issue came up, [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and it was as if he was warning [him] indirectly that if he discussed this issue and these clubs were removed from the Israeli league, this would be liable to cause the destruction of FIFA… Unfortunately, these matters continue as they are, but there will be a petition to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is the highest legal court, so that it will take care of the issue and decide on it.”
Jibril 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).