Asian Cup 2015: Palestine want Israel expelled from FIFA competitions

PALESTINE will press to have Israel expelled from all competitions at the FIFA Congress in May unless Palestinian players are allowed to travel freely.

NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 12: Palestine players line up before the match during the 2015 Asian Cup match between Japan and Palestine at Hunter Stadium on January 12, 2015 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

PALESTINE will press to have Israel expelled from all competitions at the FIFA Congress in May unless Palestinian players are allowed to travel and move around freely.

Buoyed but disappointed after their “historic” Asian Cup debut last Monday, which finished in a 4-0 loss to Japan, Palestine has vowed to improve in Friday’s clash with neighbours Jordan.

They also hope to use the Asian Cup as a vehicle for Palestinian statehood, and to draw attention to what they claim are arbitrary Israeli controls on their players, playing havoc with attempts to train and play.

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Palestine want to use their Asian Cup qualification to lobby FIFA.

The Palestinian FA called a press conference at their Melbourne hotel on Thursday, where FA president Jibril Rajoub said they would lobby FIFA for change.

Now a member of UEFA, Israel was ironically part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) between 1954-74 and won the 1964 Asian Cup.

Two Palestinian players were blocked from coming to Australia, after six were denied the chance to play in the qualifiers (AFC Challenge Cup, which Palestine won).

Palestine’s Abdallah Jaber runs with the ball against Japan.

“This is an Israeli policy to restrict movement of footballers, inside Palestinian territories, or inside to outside,’’ Rajoub said.

“Even for (the Asian Cup) two players, assistant (coaching) staff and the deputy officer from the (FA) were prevented from leaving by the Israelis.

“Sometimes they restricted the movement of friendly teams or instructors, even some who were in an official FIFA or AFC mission.

“I believe that Palestine’s participation at this great event should be a clear message to the Israelis to recharge their mental batteries, reconsider their policies.

Palestinians celebrating in the West Bank after Palestine qualified for their maiden Asian Cup.

“To recognise realities on the ground and abide by FIFA’s statues and to understand that by continuing to act like the neighbourhood bully will lead them to sanctions to FIFA and this is what we are working on.

“The next FIFA Congress we are going with a clear request, either Israel abides by FIFA’s statutes or sanctions, including to ask for Israel’s suspension as a member associate of FIFA.

“I hope Israelis understand the dimension of having Palestine here, equal footing with 15 other members of Asia. We qualified through our own skills.

“We are trying through the FIFA Congress to exert pressure on Israeli to end such racist, irrational policy which is against the statues of FIFA.”

Ahrar Jabarin (bottom C) wife of Palestinian footballer Hisham Salhi watches the Japan game.

Captain Ramsay Saleh said last Monday was a historic day for Palestine, who were admitted into FIFA in 1998.

“All Palestinians were so thirsty to hear the Palestine national anthem played for the first time ever at the biggest Asian tournament,’’ the keeper said.

“We struggled to even arrive in Australia. This itself is a victory for our cause and a message to the whole world that the Palestinian nation exists.

“Australia, and has the advantage of having two pathways, one to Europe, one to Asia, hence we were able to get exposure to more countries.

Murad Said is left dejected after a tough opening game.

“We play for our cause, for our voice to be heard, the voice of those who suffer in Gaza and West Bank, and we managed to overcome all obstacles imposed on us by the Israeli occupation.

“We aren’t satisfied with our Japan performance, we promise our nation that [Friday] will represent our true beginning.

“Our players come from Gaza, West Bank and the diaspora, we have team spirit and determination and it’s going to be completely different against Jordan and Iraq.’’

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Palestine want Israel expelled from FIFA competitions