RAMALLAH, June 18, 2026 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) denied reports circulating in some media outlets regarding a purported match between the Palestinian and Israeli under-15 national teams, stressing that these allegations are entirely unfounded.
In a statement, the PFA clarified that it had not received any official notification or proposal from FIFA in this regard, noting that it had been clearly informed that no match of this kind had been announced or arranged.
The PFA emphasized its unwavering and unequivocal stance of refusing to be part of any initiatives or attempts aimed at imposing a false sporting reality with an entity that daily perpetrates grave violations against Palestinian athletes and systematically targets both people and sports infrastructure.
The PFA also affirmed its firm rejection of any attempts to use sports as a tool to cover up these violations or to whitewash an unacceptable reality, stating that the situation on the ground cannot be separated from any sporting activity, and that any discussion of matches in this context represents a blatant disregard for reality.
It pointed out that Palestinian sports have lost more than 1,000 athletes in the past three years, including former national team captain Suleiman Al-Abeed and karate champion Nagham Abu Samra, stressing that these figures reflect the extent of the suffering and targeting of the sports sector in Palestine.
The PFA said that his priorities are protecting athletes, defending their rights, and working to achieve justice and accountability in accordance with FIFA regulations and the principles of the Olympic Charter, in addition to continuing legal and sporting efforts to ensure that Israel is held accountable for its ongoing violations.
The Association called on media outlets to be accurate and rely on official sources, and to avoid publishing misleading or undocumented information.
It affirmed its commitment to its national and sporting responsibilities and its determination not to be drawn into attempts to distract from the fundamental issues that affect the existence and future of Palestinian athletes.
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