FIFA extends work of Israeli-Palestinian mediators

Posted October 14, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

ZURICH (AP) - FIFA has extended the work of its panel mediating between Israeli and Palestinian soccer officials, and declined to act against clubs based in Israeli West Bank settlements.

Panel chairman Tokyo Sexwale says his monitoring group will meet by the end of November.

The South African official briefed the FIFA Council on Friday and hopes to present a final report at a Jan. 9-10 meeting in Zurich.

Sexwale, a former FIFA presidential candidate, says "we are almost working in the area of extra time."

The Palestinian federation has long urged FIFA to punish the Israeli federation, and wants settlement clubs declared illegal. FIFA rules bar members from organizing games on another federation's territory without permission.

Disputed issues also include travel delays for Palestinian players and opponents caused by Israeli security restrictions.

FIFA official Tokyo Sexwale speaks to the media during Council meeting at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. ( (Ennio Leanza/Keystone via AP) The Associated Press

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