FIFA claims political neutrality, but its treatment of Palestinian football shows an organisation willing to accommodate occupation, apartheid and Israeli impunity.

This World Cup has increasingly put FIFA and its leadership under scrutiny. FIFA’s decision to overturn the suspension of an American football player after US President Donald Trump’s intervention roiled fans around the world. Meanwhile, there have been accusations of referees favouring Argentina in their decisions during games against Egypt and Cape Verde.

In Palestine, we have seen and experienced FIFA’s corrupt nature for years. Despite its statute explicitly requiring the organisation to respect human rights, it has systematically failed to do that when it has come to Palestinian football.

FIFA has repeatedly refused demands from the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) to suspend the Israeli Football Association (IFA) for allowing its league games to be played on occupied and stolen Palestinian land by teams that reside in illegal settlements.

It has not condemned the mass killing and maiming of Palestinian football players or demanded the release of detained football players – most recently Rand Halawani and Natalie Abu Dayyeh, members of the Palestinian women’s football team. It has not protested against the destruction of Palestinian football stadiums. It has........

© Pearls and Irritations