Israel appeals to Platini to sway FIFA from Palestinian suspension bid

The Israel Football Association appealed to UEFA president Michel Platini on Friday to speak out "loud and clear" against the Palestinian bid to vote the IFA out of FIFA next week.

The annual FIFA Congress, which begins on May 28, includes the Palestinian Football Association's proposal to suspend the IFA from world football.

IFA president Ofer Eini told Platini in a letter that FIFA had twice refused his request to have the Palestinian bid removed from the Congress agenda, mentioning FIFA's own attempts to have the item struck.

"IFA is facing one of its most crucial situations since it was established in the year 1928, finding ourselves in the need to defend ourselves against a proposal which is totally political and has nothing to do with the objectives of FIFA and the spirit of football", Eini wrote.

FIFA chief Sepp Blatter failed to convince the Palestinians to remove their proposal -- which he objects to -- during a visit to the region which ended on Wednesday.

The PFA says Israel imposes restrictions on the freedom of movement of their players, and protest the existence of five Israeli teams in settlements, built on land they want for a future state.

The IFA says it has no say over the security issues which can cause difficulties in players' travel within and from the West Bank, calling the Palestinian bid an unsportsmanlike attempt to mix politics with sports.

Israel told Blatter it would set up mechanisms to ease the movement of footballers and set up a working group to monitor the situation.

"The time has come now for UEFA to raise its voice loud and clear against this proposal," said Eini, whose IFA is part of UEFA.

"UEFA should lead the world of football against this dangerous and totally unacceptable initiative of the PFA".

Eini called on UEFA's executive committee to publish "a formal decision rejecting" the PFA proposal, requesting all UEFA members to take "legal or administrative steps" to strike down the proposal from the agenda, or unanimously object it, if it reaches the vote.

Blatter is seeking reelection at the Congress. He has received strong public backing from nearly every regional confederation, except Europe's UEFA.
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Source: AFP