BICOM

Although today’s FIFA Congress has been overshadowed by the arrest of several senior FIFA executives on corruption charges, a vote is still expected to take place on a Palestinian motion to suspend Israel from the organisation, effectively banning the country from the sport.

Earlier this month, FIFA President Sepp Blatter visited Israel and the Palestinian territories in an attempt to mediate a resolution. The Palestinian Football Association (FA) claims that Israeli security restrictions limit the movement of Palestinian players. It also opposes the participation of five clubs in the Israeli league that are located in the West Bank. However, Israeli restrictions have not prevented the Palestinian football league including teams from both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Israel’s football league includes numerous Arab players and officials at the highest level, while the national team is routinely represented by Arab and other minority players.

Israeli leaders and others have condemned the Palestinian initiative as an attempt to politicise football. Nonetheless, it emerged yesterday that Israel has agreed a number of measures to address the Palestinian concerns, including the establishment of a monthly committee comprising Israeli, Palestinian and FIFA officials to solve travel issues, plus help to build new West Bank stadiums. However, the Palestinian FA is reported to have issued further demands, including a United Nations ruling on the five Israeli clubs based in the West Bank and a vote today appears inevitable.

It comes amid the backdrop of this week’s arrests and widespread calls for Blatter not to stand for re-election today. It is unclear whether political moves over these issues could impact the vote on Israel. However, the Palestinian proposal would require a 75 per cent majority of the 209-member FIFA Council for approval. Such an outcome appears unlikely as European football’s governing body UEFA yesterday said its 54 members would likely vote against the motion. Israeli officials would prefer to avoid a vote altogether and the potential that it become a template for other international forums.