FIFA’s self-serving and so-called FAIR PLAY and TAKE A STAND AGAINST RACISM policy not so “fair” and not so anti-racist. Palestinian FA chairman Jibril Rajoub accuses racist Israel of using “bullying” tactics to restrict its football (soccer) players, teams and tournaments.
By Haaretz
THE world soccer’s initiative to resolve travel restrictions on Palestinian players is doomed to fail unless Israel abandons its “bullying policy” and stops “playing games,” Palestinian Football Association chairman Jibril Rajoub has said.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Tuesday expressed hope a solution would be found be the end of the year. After holding talks with Rajoub and his Israeli counterpart, Avi Luzon, Blatter said he was “optimistic” that a viable solution would be found and approved by Israeli authorities.
“I welcome FIFA’s decision to supervise and mediate but I have never trusted the Israelis and nothing has changed,” Rajoub told insideworldfootball.com in an interview published on Friday. “It’s not possible to bridge the gap of mistrust quite so easily.”
FIFA recognizes Palestine as a national team but Israel’s denial of travel visas to Palestinian players and officials from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip forced the side to forfeit its place in qualification for the 2010 World Cup. The issue flared again last month when teams from Iraq, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates struggled to arrive for a Palestinian-hosted youth tournament. That impasse prompted Rajoub to call on FIFA to expel Israel from its ranks.
During the meeting, Rajoub said, Luzon only made unsubstantiated accusations. In order to gain the trust of the Palestinians Israel must take practical steps, he said. “If FIFA can get guarantees from the other side, then yes that would be an historic breakthrough.”
Rajoub said there was no room for compromise and that the only answer would be granting equal rights to the Palestinian “The ball is in Israel’s court to stop their bullying policy and give the other side the same rights. Both associations should be allowed to function independently… It’s up to the Israelis to come up with a permanent strategy. At the moment they are just playing games.”
Friendship First, Competition Second – An Amateur Sport Website 