Messi
FIFA on Friday hit the Palestinian Football Association chief with a
year-long “match” ban after he called for protests against Lionel
Messi over plans for Argentina to play Israel in Jerusalem.
FIFA sanctioned PFA president Jibril Rajoub for
breaching codes against “inciting hatred and violence…
following media statements he gave calling on football
fans to target the Argentinian Football Association and
burn jerseys and pictures of Lionel Messi.”
Rajoub had demanded that the Barcelona star not take part in the
pre-World Cup friendly against Israel scheduled for June 9 and
called on fans to burn shirts bearing his name if he did.
Rajoub told a June 3 press conference that Messi “has tens of
millions of fans in the Arab and Muslim countries… we ask
everyone to burn their shirts which bear his name and posters
(with his image)”.
Under the sanction, Rajoub can remain in office as PFA president
but has restrictions imposed on his role.
He is barred from attending “football matches or competitions in
any official capacity, which includes, among others, participating in
media activities at stadiums or in their vicinity on matchdays,”
FIFA said, without specifying restrictions on non-matchday events.
The suspension is distinct from a more draconian FIFA sanction
which bans wrongdoers from taking part in all “football related
activities.”
– Put Rajoub ‘behind bars’ –
The sold-out Argentina-Israel friendly was originally meant to be
held in Haifa but was moved to Jerusalem by Israel’s right-wing
sports minister, Miri Regev, sparking Palestinian protests.
Reacting to FIFA’s ruling on Friday, Regev said it affirmed that
“terrorists who incite violence have no place in the world of
football”.
“Jibril Rajoub should be behind bars and not in the official stands
of football stadiums,” she added.
The PFA was not immediately available to respond to FIFA’s
decision.
Tensions over the Jerusalem issue were already inflamed ahead of
the football controversy.
Palestinians claim the eastern part of Jerusalem, annexed by
Israel, as the capital of their future state. Israel considers the
entire city its own, “indivisible” capital.
Palestinians were outraged at US President Donald Trump’s
decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,
breaking with decades of policy, and move his country’s embassy
to the disputed city.
The embassy opened on May 14, three weeks before the
scheduled friendly, triggering deadly protests and clashes with
Israeli forces on the Gaza border.
On June 5, Argentina said it was pulling out of the game. Argentine
FA president Claudio Tapia spoke of unspecified “threats” to the
team.
Israel then announced that it would file a complaint to FIFA,
accusing Rajoub of pressuring Argentine players and officials into
cancelling.
Source: vanguardngr.com
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