By Andrew Warshaw
April 21 – UEFA president Michel Platini has promised Israel he will do everything he can to stave off a Palestinian bid to suspend them from FIFA, according to Israeli media reports.
Israeli officials are making a concerted effort, this week and next, to prevent a Palestinian resolution being put to the vote at next month’s FIFA Congress. As members of UEFA, they met yesterday with Platini and are preparing similar talks with FIFA president Sepp Blatter next week.
Israel Football Association (IFA) chairman Ofer Eini (pictured), chief executive Rotem Kemer and legal advisor Efraim Barak met with Platini and UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino to discuss the Palestinian proposal which, as things stand now, is set to be on the agenda in Zurich.
UEFA made no statement after the meeting but according to the IFA, Platini told Eini that if it comes to a ballot among FIFA’s 209 members, UEFA will stand by Israel.
“Platini stressed that Israel is an inseparable part of UEFA and is an equal member that is welcome in the UEFA family,” an IFA statement read.
Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub has long been calling for sanctions against Israel, claiming the travel restrictions imposed by Israeli security forces on players and officials between the West Bank and Gaza break FIFA statutes. Any proposal, however, will need a 75% majority to pass.
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