Palestine soccer boss visa decision not my call: PM
The Prime Minister has distanced himself from a decision to deny the boss of Palestinian football entry into Australia ahead of a World Cup qualifier.
Jibril Rajoub
Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub will not attend the clash between the Socceroos and Palestine in Perth on Tuesday night.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he did not personally decide to reject Mr Rajoub’s visa application.
“These decisions are made at arm’s length by the bodies, by the Immigration Department,” Mr Albanese said in Canberra on Monday.
“There are a range of reasons why that may have occurred.”
He was denied entry over a “technicality” in his visa and was not aboard a private plane carrying players that touched down in Perth on Saturday, according to a 7 News report.
On Sunday, Football Australia said the decision was a matter for government and the organisation provides visa support to all visiting football delegations.
Mr Rajoub is a politician and also the chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee.
He met with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in Lausanne, Switzerland, in April.
The Department of Home Affairs does not comment on individual cases but a spokesperson said all non-citizens applying for visas are considered on an individual basis against requirements in national migration legislation.
International football’s governing body FIFA said it was in favour of allowing entry and exit for all delegation members attending international fixtures, however, responsibilities for granting entry to a country rested with relevant national authorities.
Rajoub last month called on FIFA to suspend Israel from international soccer.
AAP
