Skip to main content
‘Fifa is discriminating against Palestinians’
Israel ‘has dictated terms’ to football’s governing body

Palestinian and international organisations yesterday demanded that Fifa’s IsraelPalestine monitoring committee be dissolved immediately, accusing Tel Aviv of pressuring football’s world governing body into delaying the publication of its report indefinitely.

The committee, established in May 2015 and chaired by Tokyo Sexwale, has continually failed to submit updated reports to the Fifa council, the last one being due in October 2016.

Instead, Israeli government officials have forced the committee to soften its recommendations — which has led to a failure to compel Israel’s national football league to exclude six teams based in illegal Israeli settlements.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
DETERIORATING CONDITIONS: Palestinians walk through a flooded temporary tent camp after heavy rainfall in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip;
Features / 2 December 2025
2 December 2025

Washington and its Western allies decry human rights abuses while arming and shielding Israel, turning contradiction into policy, argues RAMZY BAROUD

Smoke from flares thrown by fans fills the field before the soccer derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was called off Sunday after pregame disturbances led police to deem it unsafe to proceed at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025
Features / 22 October 2025
22 October 2025

The ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans was based on evidence of a pattern of violence and hatred targeting Arabs and Muslims, two communities that have a large population in Birmingham — overturning the ban was tacit acceptance of the genocidal ideology the fans espouse, argues CLAUDIA WEBBE

Pal footballler
Men’s Football / 6 August 2025
6 August 2025
Many seats are empty as teams warm up before the Club World Cup group F soccer match between Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns in Orlando, Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Men's Football / 18 June 2025
18 June 2025