The global governing body for association football, FIFA, has opted against banning Israeli clubs and national teams from competitions under its authority. The organization determined that the issue surrounding the status of the territories is too intricate to warrant legal penalties.
Since March 2024, the Palestinian Football Association has been demanding penalties against Israel. This call was echoed by UN experts and a collective of athletes led by Paul Pogba, citing actions taken by Tel Aviv within Palestinian territories.
FIFA conducted an inquiry and subsequently concluded that it was unable to impose sanctions. Its rationale suggests that the international legal standing of the West Bank remains ambiguous.
Nevertheless, FIFA has imposed a fine of 150,000 Swiss francs on the Israel Football Association (IFA) due to instances of offensive conduct and discrimination. The association has also been mandated to implement preventative measures.
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