Own goals

Scoring an own goal can be a most embarrassing result in a soccer game, but it also has another connotation. Read more

FIFA World Cup hospitality website excludes Israel, lists ‘Palestine’ instead

The FIFA World Cup, which is set to take place in Qatar from Nov. 21 through Dec. 18, has a website that offers the public help in purchasing hospitality packages, but Israelis looking for their country were originally given the sole option of “Palestinian Territories, Occupied” rather than “Israel.” Read more

Palestinian Football Association head loses FIFA appeal, suspension upheld   

A special panel over the weekend rejected an appeal by Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) and upheld a verdict to suspend him for a year from attending FIFA events over his intimidation campaign against Argentina’s team before it was slated to play in Israel. Read more

Penalty shootouts…writes Michael Kuttner

In the final rounds of the FIFA world cup, results must be decisive. Read more

On the other hand

FIFA world cup competitions, known as Mondial here, are in full swing with teams from many countries striving to become champions of soccer…writes Michael Kuttner. Read more

We can and should make BDS a pariah

The BDS movement hasn’t had much luck targeting Israel’s economy or even its cultural life: Despite some high-profile cancellations, there were 140 performances by international artists last year, up from 22 in 2010…writes Evelyn Gordon/JNS. Read more

WJC welcomes FIFA decision to drop Palestinian push against Israeli soccer teams

The World Jewish Congress has welcomed the decision by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Council to decline the Palestinian Football Association’s long-standing push for punitive measures against the Israeli Football Association on the grounds that it is a complex political dispute unrelated to football. Read more

World Jewish Congress urges football associations worldwide to reject anti-Israel vote in FIFA

The World Jewish Congress and dozens of its affiliated communities around the world are urging national football associations to reject a forthcoming vote regarding the standing of the Israeli Football Association (IFA) within Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), set to take place at the international football body’s upcoming Congress in Bahrain.   Read more

Say it loud, say it clear: no World Cup for Qatar…writes Ben Cohen/JNS.org

In a normal world, it wouldn’t be Israel that is the target of a campaign for boycotts, divestment, and sanctions. The tiny Gulf emirate of Qatar is a far better candidate. Read more

Lauder appeals to FIFA to reject Palestinian demand to suspend Israel

The president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) today appealed to the 209 member associations of FIFA to reject a Palestinian demand to suspend the membership of the Israeli Football Association (IFA) in world soccer’s governing body. Read more

A letter to FIFA

Dr Danny Lamm, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, has sent a letter to world football organisation FIFA about its intentions to debate  a motion calling for Israel’s suspension. Read more