In an announcement posted on its website on Saturday, Iran's football federation declared that it requested the world football's governing body, FIFA, to suspend "Israel's" football federation in response to the occupation's genocidal war on Gaza. 

Iran requested FIFA to "completely suspend" the Israeli federation "from all activities related to football" and demanded "immediate and serious measures" by FIFA and its member associations "to prevent the continuation" of the Israeli "crimes and provide food, drinking water, medicinal and medical supplies to innocent people and civilians."

A 12-nation group of football associations in the Middle East has called on FIFA and the UEFA to ban "Israel", Sky News reported, referring to the letter sent to the federation. 

 

 

 

 

 

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The group includes the football associations of Palestine, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar and is led by Jordan's Football Association, whose head is King Abdullah II's half-brother, Prince Ali. 

The letter, written by Prince Ali, called on FIFA to isolate the Israeli football association from all related activities due to the brutal genocide in Gaza and the continuous war crimes "Israel" keeps committing in the Strip, targeting Palestinian civilians, including football enthusiasts, players, and coaches. 

The Israeli FA, however, called for the rejection of the ban on the basis of disassociating football and sports from politics. Niv Goldstein, "Israel's" Federal Association CEO, said, "We are concentrating only on football matters and our dream is to qualify for the European Championship in 2024 and I'm looking forward to world peace."

Read more: UEFA, FIFA at core of double standards for the war on Gaza solidarity

This raised questions concerning the UEFA's exclusion of Russia in international tournaments and participation when the war against Ukraine was launched.