FIFA postpones again reviewing Palestinian request to suspend Israel

The FIFA Council has delayed deciding on a Palestinian bid to suspend Israel from international football until October.

World football’s governing body FIFA has again delayed its review on a Palestinian bid to have Israel suspended from the international arena over its war on Gaza. FIFA said late on Friday it would now consider the Palestine Football Association’s (PFA) proposals against the Israel Football Association (IFA) in October.

The PFA had submitted a proposal to suspend Israel in May, with FIFA ordering an urgent legal evaluation and promising to address it at an extraordinary meeting of its council in July.

FIFA said last month the legal assessment would now be shared with its council by August 31. The Zurich-based body said it had now moved the assessment back to October.

“FIFA has received the independent legal assessment of the Palestine Football Association’s proposals against Israel,” FIFA said. “This assessment will be sent to the FIFA Council to review in order that the subject can be discussed at its next meeting which will take place in October.”