By Andrew Warshaw
May 25 – As the behind-the-scenes diplomacy to halt Palestine’s call for Israel to be suspended from FIFA enters its final phase, the head of the Palestine Football Association has provided FIFA with a timely example of why his controversial proposal remains on the table at the forthcoming FIFA Congress.
Jibril Rajoub has written to FIFA president Sepp Blatter in protest at Sameh Maraabah being stopped as he tried to leave to attend a training session in Tunisia.
The PFA said the team bus waited and Maraabah was eventually allowed to continue with his colleagues, who then flew from Jordan to Tunisia.
Israel, which has consistently defended its security policy in the area, responded by pointing out that last year Maraabah was jailed for two months after being convicted of being a courier for Hamas which rules Gaza.
Blatter insists his recent shuttle diplomacy made progress after last-ditch talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas but time is running out to avoid the PFA’s proposal from being put to the vote at this week’s FIFA congress.
Jibril Rajoub’s letter warned that “the implications of this incident can only confirm the PFA’s position on the promises given by the Israeli Government; that they are only words unless they are included in a solution that can only come through, and be guaranteed by, the FIFA Congress.”
But Israeli FA chief Ofer Enei, in his own letter to UEFA president Michel Platini, once again accused the PFA of deliberate provocation.
“The Israeli Football Association will file an official complaint with FIFA against the Palestinian federation following its latest attempt to create an unnecessary provocation of the Allenby Bridge during the crossing of the Palestinian football team,” a statement said.
“The Palestinian association, as part of the strategy towards the FIFA Congress at the end of next week and the request to suspend Israel, went beyond the agreements with FIFA and the Israeli Union, require notice and transfer a list of names of Palestinian athletes before they left the game.”
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