São Paulo – Football associations from Israel and Palestine convened last Tuesday (3rd) to discuss ways to improve the access of people and equipment for football matches to be held in the Palestinian territories. The meeting was promoted by the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa), at the organization’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
In early July, Fifa’s president Joseph Blatter created a taskforce for Palestinians and Israelis to discuss ways to minimize the obstacles placed on soccer games by Israel. The taskforce was established because the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) complained that Israel hampering the practice of the sport.
One of the proposals discussed at the meeting is for Palestine to submit the application for entry of people and equipment to both the Israeli authorities and to the Israeli Football Association (IFA) with a deadline. Another issue discussed at the meeting is that each of the federations will appoint a liaison to follow up with Palestine’s applications. Fifa, in turn, will oversee the negotiations.
Fifa intends to facilitate the flow of football players, referees, coaches and equipment so Palestinian football can develop. The Israeli football team is placed 63th in Fifa’s ranking, which is topped by Spain. Palestine, in turn, ranks 150th, ahead of countries like Mauritania (151st), Tahiti (154th) and Indonesia (169th). The ranking comprises 207 national teams.
Blatter said, in a press release issued by Fifa, that the fact that the two countries’ football federations have agreed to join the taskforce is a sign of goodwill. Now, the IFA and the PFA will meet in Jordan to discuss the signing of a memorandum of understanding with each country’s proposals. A report on the matter should be discussed at the next meeting of the Fifa Executive Committee, on October 3rd and 4th. The agreement should be completed by the end of the year.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
