Palestinian footballer, family killed by 'Israel' in Gaza
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In July, the Palestine Football Association noted that at least 245 football players had been martyred in Israeli strikes, including 69 children and 176 youths.
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Martyr Imad Abu Tima (Undated, Social media)
Imad Abu Tima is one of many Palestinian athletes who have been murdered by "Israel", underscoring FIFA's delay in addressing "Israel's" participation in international competitions.
A recent Israeli airstrike in eastern Khan Younis killed the 21-year-old, who played for the Ittihad Khan Younis club and represented Palestine’s under-20 national team in 2021, according to reports.
He is among over 400 Palestinian athletes reportedly killed by "Israel", according to data from Palestine’s National Olympic Committee.
In July, the Palestine Football Association noted that at least 245 football players had been martyred in Israeli strikes, including 69 children and 176 young men.
During the 74th FIFA Congress on May 17 in Bangkok, Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub called attention to "Israel’s" “systematic violations” of FIFA statutes, urging the organization to consider banning the entity from international football.
“I ask you to stand on the right side of history and vote now,” he stated.
FIFA’s dilly-dallying on suspension of Israel makes it complicit in Gaza genocide
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) September 5, 2024
By Alireza Akbarihttps://t.co/HozrP2RByL pic.twitter.com/5bUBjNLHeW
In response, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that the organization would seek legal counsel before agreeing on the Palestinian demand, detailing that the issue would be handled in an exceptional session of the FIFA Council in late July.
World football governing body, FIFA, says it has delayed a decision on a Palestinian request to suspend Israel from international football over the regime’s war crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.https://t.co/2pRl7R0vo1 pic.twitter.com/0NGpQA7v6J
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) July 19, 2024
However, on July 19, FIFA issued a statement stating that "more time is needed to conclude this process with due care and completeness."
The evaluation, it said, will be submitted to the FIFA Council for a decision "no later than August 31, 2024."
On August 31, FIFA again postponed its consideration of the Palestinian candidacy, noting that the assessment will be given to the FIFA Council for debate at its next meeting in October.
7-#RedCardIsrael: Calls to ban Israel from global football grow as FIFA meets on July 20 pic.twitter.com/XqgRhCXYjB
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) July 17, 2024
FIFA puts off Palestinian push to suspend 'Israel' from world soccer
FIFA refrained from suspending the Israeli soccer federation but called for a disciplinary inquiry into allegations of discrimination raised by Palestinian soccer officials.
A senior FIFA panel will also investigate the participation of Israeli football teams, reportedly based in occupied Palestinian territories, in Israeli competitions.
For over ten years, the Palestinian soccer federation has urged FIFA to take action against the Israeli soccer body for including teams from West Bank settlements in its leagues.
The Palestinians have recently accused the Israel Football Association (IFA) of complicity in violations of international law by the Israeli government, as well as discrimination against Arab players.
These decisions by FIFA came more than four months after Palestinian officials called for "Israel's" suspension from FIFA during a meeting in May. Their request, made at the FIFA Congress, highlighted violations of international law in Gaza during the ongoing Israeli war and reminded FIFA of its obligations regarding human rights and anti-discrimination policies.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has reported that dozens of Palestinian players have been killed in the war, football infrastructure has been destroyed, domestic leagues have been suspended, and the national team has had to play World Cup qualifiers abroad. Meanwhile, "Israel" continues to play international fixtures abroad.
