Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The president of the Palestinian Football Federation, Jibril Rajoub, said that FIFA’s decision to take a neutral position on the settlement clubs, violates the laws of FIFA itself as well as international law.

Rajoub pointed out the intention of the Palestinian Federation to refer to the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS), benefiting from the non-subordination of this body to any guardianship. He stressed that CAS will not be affected by any party in determining its position on the issue, in addition to its position on the marginalization exercised by the President of FIFA towards the Palestinian Football Federation in the last Congress.

On Friday, the world football governing body stated that it would not sanction or take other measures against clubs located in settlements in the occupied West Bank.

FIFA’s own rules bar national associations from holding matches on the territory of another member without permission, as Israel does in the West Bank, without Palestinian assent.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that settlement football clubs contribute to human rights violations.

“By allowing the [Israel Football Association] to hold matches inside settlements, FIFA is engaging in business activity that supports Israeli settlements,” added HRW.

*Al Arabiya