FIFA to Conduct Legal Review on Israel Suspension Request Amid Gaza Crisis

FIFA has announced that it will conduct a legal assessment before deciding on Palestine’s call to suspend the Israel Football Association amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) requested a vote at FIFA’s Congress in Bangkok to exclude Israel, supported by the Jordanian Football Association.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino clarified that the decision would ultimately rest with the FIFA Council after completing the legal review. “Football should not and should never become a hostage for politics and should remain a vector for peace, uniting people rather than dividing them,” Infantino said. The assessment will consider claims from both the Israeli and Palestinian associations, with findings forwarded to the FIFA Council for a final decision.

PFA President Jibril Rajoub criticized FIFA for the perceived delay, urging decisive action to address the suffering caused by the conflict. “The suffering of millions, including thousands of footballers, deserves as much attention. If not now, then when?” Rajoub stated. The Gaza war began after a 7 October Hamas attack on Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. The conflict has since claimed over 34,000 lives in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry.

The Israel Football Association, led by Shino Moshe Zuares, described the suspension call as a politically motivated attempt to harm Israeli football. Zuares emphasized the challenges of holding matches in Israel during the conflict, noting that over 130 Israelis remain in Gaza and matches cannot be safely conducted in parts of the country.

Separately, FIFA is facing legal threats over plans for a 32-team men’s Club World Cup next summer, with players’ union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association arguing that the global calendar is over-saturated. Infantino defended FIFA’s role, stating that the organization’s tournaments fund football development across 211 countries and that 70% of FIFA’s member associations rely on its resources to sustain their football programs.

The FIFA Council is expected to convene an extraordinary session in late July to address the issue of Israel’s potential suspension and ensure that any decision follows a comprehensive legal assessment.