By Mark Baber
August 16 – In the face of a public relations disaster and widespread calls for sanctions from FIFA and UEFA, Israel has relented to pressure to allow youth teams to participate in the 4th West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) U-16 Championship, it was announced by Jordanian and Palestinian officials today.
The WAFF U-16 Championship is the first international tournament to be held on Palestinian soil and was due to kick off on Thursday. However, as Insideworldfootball reported this morning [http://www.insideworldfootball.com/world-football/asia/13082-palestinians-demand-fifa-action-after-israelis-refuse-entry-for-waff-tournament], three managers of the Jordanian football union, two UAE representatives and 13 managers and players from Iraq were denied entry permits by the Israeli authorities, who control the borders into and out of Palestine.
With the FIFA President having recently pledged to help Palestinian football overcome what has been described as a “state of siege”, with the Palestinian Football Federation president calling for Israel to be flung out of FIFA, and with UEFA due to make a statement on the issue, Israeli authorities have decided to issue the permits required to allow the tournament to progress.
According to WAFF secretary-general Fadi Zureiqat, speaking to AFP: “WAFF President (Jordan’s) Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein and FIFA’s vice-president intervened with UEFA to settle this issue. Israel capitulated (to the pressure) and allowed entry permits for all the teams and officials.”
Zureiqat added that: “The delegations have prepared to set off for the West Bank via the King Hussein crossing (with Jordan). WAFF will hold a meeting this evening to decide the official programme, following the delay.”
The Palestinian Football Association’s director-general told AFP: “The Israeli civil administration informed me they have issued all the permits, and the teams can begin crossing into the West Bank from today.”
The tournament, which marks a significant step in the development of Palestinian football, is now set to start on Sunday, with Palestine also scheduled to hold the WAFF Under-21 Youth Championship in the first week of October.
Israel’s change of heart illustrates both the power of football to engender positive change and also the flexibility of Israeli authorities when faced with genuine international pressure.
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