The Palestine Football Association (PFA) declared the cancellation of a meeting with FIFA President, Gianni Infantino on Tuesday, April 12th.
as Infantino was, at the invitation of notorious advocates for the violations of international law and negation of Palestinian inalienable rights, will be participating in the inauguration of the so-called “Museum of Tolerance” and a conference in that location.
this came as an unjustifiable action since this edifice has been illegally built on the confiscated grounds of the historic Ma’manullah Islamic cemetery, a place declared a historic site by the Muslim Supreme Council in 1927, and an “antiquities site” by the British Mandate of Palestine in 1944. It contains the remains of thousands of Palestinians, whose tombs were wrecked and violated by the building of the location of the conference,” the statement added.
Following the IOF’s assassination of Palestinian footballer Mohammad Ali Ahmad AlGhneim, and the long awaited visit of Infantino to the region which took an unfortunate political turn, Palestine FA president Jibril Rajoub has written to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, canceling their meeting and requesting his support in allowing football to “be played and developed freely in Palestine, without the constant threat of violence.” instead of politicizing it.
Israeli troops were called to a demonstration near AlGhneim’s home and shot him in the back. He was instantaneously killed.
The incident occurred while Rajoub was “probably preparing to depart for a match that his team, Al-Khadr, was scheduled to play against Beit Sahur in Hebron,” according to his letter to Infantino.
While Rajoub acknowledges that football cannot resolve global crises, he asserts that “it can, and it does have a strong influence when it condemns injustice and aggression.”
Mohammad was not the first footballer to lose his life at the hands of an undiscriminating occupation, and he most probably will not be the last, but it is how the football community chooses to act against such disregard for life can help bring change and perhaps make the list of casualties shorter.”
With the Israeli occupation, Palestinian football, os all other sides of life under an apartheid state, has had a long history of strife and disturbance.
“We are still dealing with the same issues that have caused us to seek assistance from FIFA and the Confederations on several occasions; movement.”
“We are still dealing with the same issues that have prompted us to seek the assistance of FIFA and the Confederations on numerous occasions; transportation of players and officials to and from Gaza continues to be hampered.” “Our teams’ headquarters, football fields, and stadiums are continually being attacked,” Rajoub warned.
“Settler violence has become a serious threat to the mobility of players and officials throughout Palestine, while illegal settlement football clubs benefit from the impunity granted to them by the FIFA’s decision not to take action against them.”
Rajoub claimed the list of complaints “grows longer and longer” and that it “doesn’t even scratch the surface of all our grievances.”
“What we’re asking is for the football community to take steps to ensure that football can be freely played and grown in Palestine, free from the continual danger of violence from an occupation emboldened by the lack of sanctions against its transgressions.”
“Despite the hard reality in our region, we remain hopeful that things will improve,” Rajoub ends. He also expressed excitement at the prospect of welcoming Infantino to the region, “hoping that it will open the door for such long-awaited transformation for the better.”
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=17963
