FIFA cries foul over Israel’s red card of ex-terrorist turned sports head

 

FIFA, football’s global body asks Israel Football Association to help secure Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub’s “freedom of movement”.

Israeli defense official explains that Rajoub’s status was changed because he “incited to violence against Israel.”

By The Associated Press

 

 

The Federation of International Football Associations, the Zurich-based global soccer governing body, is asking Israel to return VIP status to Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub and allow him to enter Israel without security checks.

Political football: Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub. – Photo: AP

FIFA said Wednesday that it had asked the Israeli Football Association to help secure Rajoub’s “freedom of movement.”

An Israeli defense official said Rajoub’s status was lowered last month along with that of another Palestinian official, Nabil Shaath, because they had “incited to violence against Israel.”

The official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, said that both Rajoub and Shaath could travel freely into and out of Israel, but now needed to show credentials and could be subject to security checks.

The status change came after the U.N. General Assembly in November upgraded the Palestinians’ status to that of nonmember observer state.

View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=6955