This decision follows a decade-long campaign by the PFA to compel FIFA to act against the IFA for including teams from West Bank settlements in its leagues.
The PFA has argued that these actions violate FIFA’s statutes and international laws, which emphasize the importance of upholding human rights and preventing discrimination in sports.
The announcement comes after a series of meetings and discussions, with Palestinian officials urging FIFA to suspend Israel’s membership during a congress in May.
At that meeting, they cited “international law violations” in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and emphasized FIFA’s commitment to human rights.
The Palestinian delegates sought a decisive action from FIFA, reflecting their frustration with the perceived inaction regarding Israel’s conduct in football.
In response to these concerns, FIFA has directed a panel overseeing governance to investigate the allegations of discrimination against the IFA.
This inquiry will specifically examine the participation of Israeli teams in competitions and whether their involvement contravenes FIFA’s regulations.
The governing body has not provided a clear timeline for the investigation, leaving many observers uncertain about when a resolution might be reached.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the situation in a statement, asserting that the FIFA Council has conducted due diligence on this sensitive matter.
He noted that, after a thorough assessment, they decided to follow the advice of independent experts. However, this decision has drawn mixed reactions, particularly from supporters of the Palestinian campaign, who have criticized FIFA for failing to follow through on its commitments regarding discrimination in sports.
Critics point out that FIFA acted swiftly in 2022 to suspend Russian national teams from its competitions shortly after the military invasion of Ukraine, demonstrating a capacity for decisive action when it chooses to do so.
This inconsistency in response has raised questions about FIFA’s commitment to upholding its own regulations across different geopolitical contexts.
UEFA, the European governing body for football, also took a firm stance against Russian teams, further highlighting the contrast in FIFA’s approach to the situation involving Israel.
For Israel, which has been a member of UEFA for 30 years, the lack of similar consequences has been notable. No European federation has refused to compete against Israeli national or club teams, and Israeli teams have frequently played their home games in neutral countries, such as Hungary and Cyprus, for security reasons since the onset of the Hamas attacks one year ago.
The Palestinian men’s national team is currently engaged in the Asian qualifying program for the 2026 World Cup. Recently, they hosted Jordan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and are set to play against Iraq on October 10.
Following that match, they will host Kuwait in Doha, Qatar, just five days later. The ongoing participation of the Palestinian team in international competitions highlights the broader struggle for recognition and equality in the world of football.
As FIFA embarks on this investigation, the Palestinian Football Association remains hopeful that its long-standing efforts will lead to a reassessment of the status of Israeli football teams and their compliance with international laws and FIFA’s regulations.
The PFA continues to call for fair treatment and adherence to principles that promote equality and justice within the sport.
The decision to investigate the IFA, albeit without suspending its membership, marks a crucial juncture in the ongoing dialogue surrounding sports, politics, and human rights.
As the investigation unfolds, the world will be watching closely to see how FIFA addresses the complex issues at play and whether it will take meaningful action to uphold its stated commitment to equality and human rights in football.