Article in official PA daily condemns FIFA suspension of Jibril Rajoub, saying it’s “part of the war that the Israeli occupation is leading against our Palestinian sport”
Headline: "Even FIFA acts in cooperation with the occupation and closes its eyes to [the occupation's] crimes"
"FIFA's politically biased decision, under pressure from ‘the Zionist lobby,' to ban Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association [and Fatah Central Committee Secretary] General Jibril Rajoub from participating in football events (see note below –Ed.) is part of the war that the Israeli occupation is leading against our Palestinian sport. The occupation is targeting the 'head of the sport pyramid' [Jibril Rajoub]. This is a desperate attempt to undermine the power and strength of the strong Palestinian sport."
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).
FIFA imposed sanctions on Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association and Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub on Aug. 24, 2018, suspending him from attending games for 12 months and fining him 20,000 Swiss francs. This was in response to a detailed complaint submitted by PMW and Rajoub’s actions to thwart a football friendly match between Argentina and Israel in Jerusalem in June 2018, which eventually made Argentina cancel the match. FIFA explained that Rajoub was being punished "for breaching article 53 (Inciting hatred and violence) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, following media statements he gave calling on football fans to target the Argentinian Football Association and burn jerseys and pictures of Lionel Messi."
"FIFA's politically biased decision, under pressure from ‘the Zionist lobby,' to ban Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association [and Fatah Central Committee Secretary] General Jibril Rajoub from participating in football events (see note below –Ed.) is part of the war that the Israeli occupation is leading against our Palestinian sport. The occupation is targeting the 'head of the sport pyramid' [Jibril Rajoub]. This is a desperate attempt to undermine the power and strength of the strong Palestinian sport."
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).
FIFA imposed sanctions on Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association and Fatah Central Committee Secretary Jibril Rajoub on Aug. 24, 2018, suspending him from attending games for 12 months and fining him 20,000 Swiss francs. This was in response to a detailed complaint submitted by PMW and Rajoub’s actions to thwart a football friendly match between Argentina and Israel in Jerusalem in June 2018, which eventually made Argentina cancel the match. FIFA explained that Rajoub was being punished "for breaching article 53 (Inciting hatred and violence) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, following media statements he gave calling on football fans to target the Argentinian Football Association and burn jerseys and pictures of Lionel Messi."