AFC backs Palestine's bid to suspend 'Israel' from FIFA over Gaza war

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
16 May 2024 13:35

The motion introduced by the Palestine Football Association aims to impose immediate and appropriate sanctions on Israeli teams.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) logo is displayed at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. (AFP)

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) backed Thursday Palestine's proposal to suspend the Israeli occupation entity from FIFA during its congress in Bangkok over the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the president of the AFC, expressed his support for the Palestine Football Association's initiative ahead of FIFA's congress on Friday. The motion aims to impose immediate and appropriate sanctions on Israeli teams.

"The AFC is only as strong as its members and when one suffers, all its other members are affected," he told delegates.

He affirmed that "the AFC stands together with the Palestine FA, and we join them in seeking effective football-related solutions to the grievances raised by the Palestine FA in their proposal."

"It is our duty to support the Palestine FA for a swift and effective resolution in line with the rules, regulations and statutes of the AFC and FIFA," Sheikh Salman added.

The proposal, submitted by the Palestine FA to FIFA on March 11, will be deliberated during the football body's annual meeting after being added to the agenda with the backing of the Algerian, Jordanian, Syrian, and Yemeni federations.

Delegates at the AFC congress observed a minute of silence to honor the victims of the Israeli war on Gaza and watched a video produced by the Palestine FA showcasing the devastation caused by the Israeli occupation forces.