Wiesenthal Centre to FIFA President : "Reject Palestinian Attempts to Eliminate Israeli Clubs and Expel the Israel Football Association from FIFA"

[S Samuels]

SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE-EUROPE
Tel.: +33(0)1 47 23 76 37
Fax: +33(0)1 47 20 84 01
Email:csweurope@gmail.com

For Immediate Release

Wiesenthal Centre to FIFA President : "Reject Palestinian Attempts to Eliminate Israeli Clubs and to Expel the Israel Football Association from FIFA"

"Had they proposed that the Israeli teams in question play matches with their Palestinian neighbours, such football pitch encounters may have helped reignite mutual hope in a floundering peace process"

  

"This Palestinian mischief has hijacked several international organisations. FIFA's mission is to promote global soccer,however, as a meeting-point for peace."

Paris, 1 August

In a letter to FIFA (International Federation of Football Associations)

President, Gianni Infantino, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre Director for

International Relations Dr. Shimon Samuels, noted that, "we were

present in Zürich – at the July 2015, 65th FIFA Congress – to protest

the then Palestinian attempt to expel the Israel Football Association

(IFA)" adding, "as a result, FIFA created a monitoring committee,

including representatives of both the IFA and PFA (Palestinian

Football Association)to overcome the latter's constant attempts to

politicize world soccer".

The letter continued, "Yet the same Palestinian agitator, Jibril

Rajoub  -  who, reportedly, praises terrorists who murder Jews as

'martyrs'  -  is again this year attempting to manipulate the FIFA

agenda", stressing that "this time, he demands the elimination of six

Israeli football clubs over the 1948 cease-fire lines between Israel

and Jordan, now better known as the 1967 green line".

Samuels charged that, "such a demand sets a dangerous precedent. For

example, Spain could demand that the UK eliminate the Gibraltar club,

or for Turkey to close all clubs in Northern Cyprus, or Pakistani and

Indian similar claims against each other in Kashmir, introducing

conflicts worldwide and thereby destroying FIFA while further sullying

'the beautiful game' ".

The Centre urged that, "had Rajoub proposed that the Israeli teams in

question play matches with their Palestinian neighbours, such football

pitch encounters may have helped reignite mutual hope in a floundering

peace process.

"Mr. President, we urge you to reject this Palestinian mischief that

has hijacked several international organisations. FIFA's mission is,however, to promote global soccer as a meeting-point for peace.

For further information please contact Shimon Samuels +336 09770158