Ramallah – The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) announced on Monday (10) that it would resume activity in September after a nearly three-year pause due to the Gaza war.
The association has named the first tournament back the “Thousand Martyrs’ Cup” to honor the 1,014 Palestinian athletes killed during the war according to the association’s data.
“We announce the resumption of sports activities and the football association’s league beginning September 4,” association president Jibril Rajoub said at a Ramallah press conference on Monday.
More than 200 clubs will compete in the tournament.
The war, started in October 2023, “created difficult conditions for all Palestinians that led to the suspension of our competitions and activities,” said Rajoub.
“But we have not lost our Palestinian national will, nor have we lost our belief that sport will remain a symbol of hope and life.”
During the press conference, he called on FIFA and other federations to stand by Palestinian sports and to protect the rights of players, clubs and children to enjoy sports in “freedom and dignity.”
The official also announced that the Palestinian national team will play a friendly against China in September as part of its preparations for the AFC Asian Cup, which kicks off in Saudi Arabia in January.
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Translated by Guilherme Miranda
