Associated Press
Asuncion, Paraguay (AP) – Palestinian officials were frustrated Thursday after FIFA gave no clear calendar to report two investigations on Israeli football open last year.
FIFA asked its disciplinary body last October to study the discrimination allegations of the Israeli football federation, and its governance panel to advise if teams from Israeli establishments in the West Bank playing in national competitions have violated the statues of the Management Organization.
Last year, the renewed demands of the Palestinian soccer federation at FIFA are part of a 15 -year campaign which requires measures against colony clubs.
“Let’s not wait a year. We have to act now,” said Susan Shalabi, head of Palestinian football, a member of the Executive Football Executive Committee, urged FIFA leaders.
“All we ask is a clear update on the state of the issue and an exact date to which the investigation will be concluded,” she said.
Shalabi asked FIFA to set a deadline for one month at the governance panel to report to the council to power chaired by the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino.
The problems of Palestinians in football are “visible, undeniable but unfortunately ignored,” she said, obtaining warm applause after a nine-minute speech.
FIFA did not respond after any member federation at the Congress, including Israeltook an invitation to speak.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said the two investigations needed more time and that new elected members were to be informed of the questions.
“The committees work with diligence to conclude what is clearly a very complex subject,” he said.
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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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