FIFA Postpones Decision on Israeli Soccer Suspension Proposal for Legal Assessment

FIFA has delayed its decision on a proposal to suspend the Israeli soccer team from international competition following its ongoing conflict with Hamas, opting instead to seek a "legal assessment" of the matter.

FIFA has postponed its decision on a proposal to suspend the Israeli soccer team from international competition due to the country's ongoing conflict with Hamas, opting instead to seek a "legal assessment" of the matter.

The proposal was submitted by the Palestine Football Association (PFA), which alleges that Israel has violated international law and destroyed or damaged Palestinian soccer infrastructure, including the historic Al-Yarmuk stadium in Gaza.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the postponement of the decision, citing the sensitivity of the matter and the need for a thorough legal review.

"Now, due to the obvious sensitivity of these matters, FIFA will mandate as of now independent legal expertise to analyze and assess the three requests made by the Palestinian Football Association and ensure that the statutes and regulations of FIFA are applied in the correct way in order to ensure a fair and due process," Infantino said.

"This legal assessment will have to allow for inputs and claims of both member associations. The results and the recommendations ... will be forwarded to the FIFA council."

An extraordinary FIFA Council meeting will be convened before July 20th to review the results of the legal assessment and make a decision on the proposal.

The PFA has called for "appropriate sanctions with immediate effect" against Israel, claiming that 193 soccer players have died as a result of the conflict.

Palestinian Football Association leader Jibril Rajoub stated that "the Palestinian people, including the Palestinian football family, are enduring an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe."

Infantino emphasized that a vote could not be held on Friday due to the need for the matter to be addressed by FIFA's governing council.

"I do not want to divide our 211 member countries," he said. "I have a responsibility as president to apply the statutes of FIFA and its regulations, whatever my personal conviction on these and other terrible matters around the world."

Infantino noted that the FIFA council had unanimously condemned the violence during its meeting on Wednesday.

"The FIFA Council also reiterated that football should not and should never become a hostage of politics and always remain ... a force of good uniting people rather than dividing," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.