"FIFA defers decision on appeal to ban Israel from football amid war on Gaza", 3 October 2024

FIFA has once again postponed a decision on the Palestinian call to ban Israel from football amid its ongoing war on Gaza.

Following a meeting at its headquarters... the Federation Internationale de Football Association – FIFA, football’s world governing body – said its disciplinary committee will review the allegations of discrimination that have been raised by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA).

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will be mandated to initiate an investigation into the alleged offence of discrimination raised by the Palestine Football Association,” FIFA said in a statement.

“The FIFA Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee will be entrusted with the mission to investigate – and subsequently advise the FIFA Council on – the participation in Israeli competitions of Israeli football teams allegedly based in the territory of Palestine.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the council had implemented “due diligence” on the matter and followed the advice of independent experts.

In May, the PFA presented arguments accusing the Israel Football Association (IFA) of violating FIFA statutes with its war on Gaza and its inclusion of teams located in illegal settlements on Palestinian territory in its domestic league.

The PFA wanted FIFA to adopt “appropriate sanctions” against Israel’s national side and club teams, including an international ban...

FIFA had passed the issue to independent legal advisers who carried out an evaluation and compiled a response.

This is not the first time that FIFA has deferred a ruling. It had promised to address the issue at an extraordinary meeting of its council in July, but deferred the decision until its last council on August 31. It then moved its decision to its October meeting...