FIFA has once again postponed its decision on the Palestinian Football Association’s request to ban the Israeli national team from international competitions. This request stems from Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, which have led to the deaths of over 410 Palestinian athletes, including 297 footballers.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), FIFA confirmed that it had received an independent legal assessment of the Palestinian Football Association’s proposals against the Israel Football Association. However, FIFA has announced that the assessment would be reviewed at the next FIFA Council meeting in October, delaying any immediate action. The governing body thanked both associations for their cooperation but did not provide specific details on the evaluation or a precise date for the meeting.
The Palestinian FA has been pushing for FIFA to impose sanctions on Israel, including banning its national team and club teams from competitions. The process began in May, with FIFA promising an urgent legal assessment. After initially planning to address the matter in July, FIFA postponed the decision to August, and now again to October.
As the situation continues to unfold, the Palestinian FA has yet to respond to this latest delay. The football world is watching closely to see how FIFA will navigate this sensitive issue amid the broader geopolitical conflict.