LAGOS – Sepp Blatter, FIFA President, said that he would promote a regular exchange between the feuding Israeli Football Association (IFA) and Palestine Football Association (PFA).
This is contained in an online publication, `Insidethegames’ on Thursday.
It said after the meeting, Blatter proceeded to another meeting with Palestine Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and other officials on May 21.
The portal noted that Blatter, met with Jibril Rajoub, PFA President, Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority Chairman as well as Hamdallah to discuss the problems between IFA and PFA.
“After the PFA submitted a proposal to have the IFA suspended from world football’s governing body for allegedly imposing restrictions on the movement of their players between the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
“It followed discussions held on May 20 between the 78-year-old Swiss, widely expected to still be at the helm of FIFA, following their Congress in Zurich on May 28 and May 29,’’ it said.
It noted that Israeli officials, including Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu would be present at the congress.
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“We discussed how we can tackle the issue of the mobility of Palestinian players and football officials.
“We will work together with the Israeli authorities on concrete solutions that should aim at the creation of a special football ID.
“And a tax exemption on football donations for the benefit of football development in the region.
“We’ll promote a regular exchange between the Israeli and Palestinian authorities through a working group with the participation of FIFA that should meet on a monthly basis.
“As FIFA President, I do not see that a suspension of an association is a solution,” the portal quoted Blatter as saying.
It said that the meeting constituted the latest round of talks to a resolution of the matter.
Insidethegames explained that if the parties involved could not agree, the IFA’s proposed suspension would go to a vote during FIFA’s congress.
It said that IFA and PFA, along with Blatter and other members of FIFA, held a meeting on May 10 where they all agreed to `pursue dialogue’.
The portal said that PFA President Rajoub refused to drop his proposal to have the IFA banned.
“In spite of the congress being just over a week away, Blatter remains confident a solution can be reached as the two organisations remain at loggerheads.
“I had constructive meetings with the Palestine political and football authorities. We all agree football should unite not divide.
“I came on a mission for peace – football should foster peace and leave politics aside. Based on my talks over the last two days, I remain confident.
“In spite of the challenging situation, that we should be able to find a solution in the interests of football and all parties involved ahead of the Congress,’’ it quoted Blatter as saying. (NAN)
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