FIFA Delays Decision on Palestinian Bid to Suspend Israel Over Gaza Conflict

FIFA has postponed its decision on the Palestinian Football Association's bid to suspend Israel from international soccer due to the war in Gaza. The final verdict will now be made in October. The PFA had accused the IFA of violations and discrimination. The IFA has denied these accusations.

World soccer's governing body, FIFA, has postponed yet again its decision on the Palestinian bid to suspend Israel from international soccer amid the ongoing war in Gaza. FIFA announced late on Friday that the Palestine Football Association's (PFA) proposals against the Israel Football Association (IFA) will now be evaluated in October.

The PFA submitted its proposal to suspend Israel in May, prompting FIFA to call for an urgent legal assessment, initially promising to address the issue at an extraordinary council meeting in July. Last month, FIFA stated that the legal evaluation would be shared with its council by August 31. However, the Zurich-based organization confirmed that the assessment has been postponed to October.

"FIFA has received the independent legal assessment of the Palestine Football Association's proposals against Israel," said FIFA in a statement. "This assessment will be sent to the FIFA Council to review so that the subject can be discussed at its next meeting in October." FIFA did not disclose further details of the assessment or the exact date of the October meeting.

The PFA has yet to comment on the recent developments. The Palestinian proposal accuses the IFA of complicity in violations of international law by the Israeli government, discrimination against Arab players, and including clubs located in Palestinian territories in its league. The IFA has rejected these allegations. According to the PFA, at least 92 Palestinian players have been killed in the conflict, football infrastructure has been destroyed, leagues have been suspended, and the national team has been forced to play World Cup qualifiers abroad.

In its proposal, the PFA urged FIFA to impose "appropriate sanctions" against Israeli teams, including the national side and clubs.

(With inputs from agencies.)