According to Inside World Football, FIFA has given Israel until the summer to improve travel and playing conditions for Palestinian soccer players.<\/i> <\/i><\/p>\n
According to an exclusive report on Monday [31 Mar 2014] from a website called Inside World Football, FIFA has given Israel until the summer to improve travel and playing conditions for Palestinian soccer players, with the threat of expulsion as a member of soccer\u2019s world governing body hanging ominously overhead.<\/p>\n
While this issue is not a new one, there has been added pressure in recent months after FIFA President Sepp Blatter visited the Middle East last July to try and help push forward the process between Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n
In recent weeks, the Palestinian Football Association has publicized that it would demand Israel\u2019s expulsion from FIFA at this summer\u2019s FIFA Congress at the World Cup in Brazil, unless travel restrictions for sportsmen between the occupied territories and Israel were removed.<\/p>\n
Representatives from Israel\u2019s highest soccer authorities have responded that Palestinian players and officials have enjoyed greatly improved access to move in and out of the West Bank and Gaza.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has never been the policy of FIFA and UEFA to mix politics and sport,\u201d Israel Football Association CEO Rotem Kemer told www.insideworldfootball.com. \u201cWe are making our best efforts in order to help the Palestinian association. We are trying to make things easier for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blatter\u2019s visit to the region led to the establishment of a FIFA Task Force to figure out the best way to fully resolve the issue.<\/p>\n
Palestine soccer\u2019s leading figurehead, Jibril Rajoub, and IFA Chairman Avi Luzon have reportedly been in close contact recently and have both publicly stated that they are fully committed to reaching a solution.<\/p>\n
Kemer maintained that important progress is being made and that he doesn\u2019t anticipate severe sanctions, if any at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we will be expelled from FIFA because we are making good progress with the Palestinians,\u201d he said. \u201cI would say we are on the right track.\u201d<\/p>\n