RAMALLAH, Oct. 6 (JMCC) - The President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has said the Israeli team may be banned from the organization over its government's treatment of Palestinian athletes.
The Israeli government has come under criticism from organizations like UEFA and the Olympic committee because of policies restricting the freedom of movement and travel of Palestinian athletes.
During a late September meeting in the West Bank with Palestinian Olympic Committee chairman Jibril Rajoub, UEFA President Michel Platini reportedly pledged to exert his influence in removing Israel from European competition over the authorities' refusal to permit members of the Palestinian national soccer team to attend games due to security reasons.
We accepted Israel into Europe and it must abide by the laws and regulations which require freedom of movement for players, Platini is said to have told Rajoub. If Israel does not do this, it will bear the serious consequences and it is liable to be thrown out of Europe.
A UEFA spokesperson said the organization cannot confirm or deny that the statements were made since it does not comment on private conversations held between two officials.
Sources in both UEFA and FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, said that officials are angered by the difficulties that Israel imposes on athletes in the Palestinian Authority...
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