FIFA, the governing body of world football (soccer), has capitulated once more to intense pressure from the Israeli government. It has removed from the agenda of its upcoming congress the issue of teams from Israel’s illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land playing in Israel’s national league.
This came after the Israel Football Association (IFA) presented a document to FIFA officials, seen by Electronic Intifada, denying that an occupation even exists.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) and more than 170 Palestinian teams have demanded that Israel be suspended due to its inclusion of settlement teams, its systematic violence against Palestinian athletes and its destruction of Palestinian sporting facilities.
Read the full article by Ali Abunimah at Green Left Weekly.