RAMALLAH, Wednesday, October 13, 2021 (WAFA) - The head of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), Jibril Rjoub, today said that he decided not to meet with the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, was due to the latter’s participation in the opening of the so-called Tolerance Museum, built on the lands of the Mammilla Muslim cemetery in West Jerusalem.

Rjoub, who is also member of the Central Committee of the ruling Fatah movement, told Voice of Palestine radio, that Infantino’s participation in the Israeli event shows bias in favor of the Israeli occupation, politicization of sports, and a violation its message, the Olympic Charter, and FIFA laws and regulations.

He explained that the PFA sent an earlier letter to the president of FIFA urging him not to participate in this event because this step violates the humanitarian mission, morals and values of sports and a provocation to the feelings of Muslims and democratic forces in the world.

Rjoub also referred to the statements of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemning and denouncing FIFA president’s active participation in a political Israeli event on Islamic land in Jerusalem and his politicization of sports, expecting that this step would generate reactions at all levels, whether at the level of national or continental federations or FIFA committees.

M.K.