By Victor Kanayo
FIFA has suspended any form of decision to act on Palestinian request to suspend Israel from participating in international competitions.
Speaking in a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “The FIFA Council has implemented due diligence on this very sensitive matter and, based on a thorough assessment, we have followed the advice of the independent experts.
“The ongoing violence in the region confirms that, above all considerations… we need peace.
“As we remain extremely shocked by what is happening, and our thoughts are with those who are suffering, we urge all parties to restore peace to the region with immediate effect.”
In May, during the FIFA congress in Bangkok, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) requested that its Israeli counterpart be suspended, and for Israeli teams to be banned from FIFA events.
Instead of taking immediate decision, the world football governing body mandated its disciplinary committee to investigate the alleged offence of discrimination raised by the PFA.
As the crisis between the neighbouring countries persists, it remains to be seen the outcome of FIFA’s investigation and eventual decision.
