With Palestine entrenched in a war against Israel, Algeria stepped forward to offer to host the Middle Eastern country's World Cup qualifying games. There is seemingly no chance of the country hosting games given its current state. Moreover, the World Cup qualifying games in Asia start during the November international break. Palestine has games against […]

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinian football chief Jibril Rajoub on Monday renewed calls for FIFA to exclude Israel over games played in settlements on occupied land, expressing disappointment at the world's body's recommendations. Palestinians argue the presence of six Israeli football clubs playing inside settlements in the occupied West Bank that are seen as […]

Geneva (AFP) – The Palestinian football chief told AFP Tuesday he would appeal to the world's top sports court if FIFA fails to punish Israel over clubs based in the occupied West Bank.  At issue are six small-time Israeli football clubs which play in Jewish settlements that are considered illegal under international law, alongside travel […]

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – The Palestinian Football Association on Wednesday reiterated a call for FIFA to act against Israeli clubs based in settlements in the occupied West Bank, a day ahead of a key meeting. Six Israeli teams are based in settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, and FIFA is expected to […]

Maale Adumim (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Palestinian children marched on an Israeli settlement to play football there on Tuesday, in a protest ahead of a key FIFA meeting to discuss teams from Israeli settlements. Boys aged between 11 and 15 from nearby Bedouin communities tried to enter the Maale Adumim settlement in the occupied West […]

Zurich (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino will make finding a solution to the bitter dispute over Israeli football clubs playing inside the occupied West Bank a "priority", he told AFP in an exclusive interview. Six clubs in the Israeli league currently play in West Bank Jewish settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. […]

Jerusalem (AFP) – FIFA has been condoning football matches played on "stolen" land in the occupied West Bank, Human Rights Watch said Monday, calling for Israeli clubs based in settlements to be forced to relocate. Six clubs in the Israeli football league play in West Bank Jewish settlements, which are considered illegal under international law, the […]

Paris (AFP) – UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic after a section of their support displayed Palestine flags during Wednesday's Champions League play-off first leg against Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel. European football's governing body said Celtic had been charged for displays of an "illicit banner" and added: "This case will be dealt with by […]

Hebron (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – Ahly al-Khalil football club of Hebron on the West Bank won the Palestinian Cup Tuesday for the second straight year after a 1-1 home draw against Shabab Khan Yunis of Gaza. Ahly, who beat the Khan Yunis side 1-0 in the first leg in the Gaza Strip a week earlier, […]

Ramallah (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – The Palestinian Cup will be decided on Tuesday night in the rescheduled final, second leg between Hebron's Ahly al-Khalil and Shabab Khan Yunis, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) confirmed Monday. The match had originally been slated to take place on Saturday, but Israel prevented it from going ahead, according to […]

Hebron (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – The final leg of Palestinian football's biggest cup was postponed on Saturday after Israel prevented players from Gaza travelling to the West Bank for the fixture, football authorities said. Israel refused to let six players and the coach of Shabab Khan Yunis cross its territory to the West Bank for […]

Hebron (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – For the first time in 30 years, Shebab Hebron football club has won the occupied West Bank's championship, thanks in large part to five new players — all Israeli Arabs. Holding Israeli citizenship, they are eligible to play for the country's professional clubs, which have facilities superior to those of […]