The Football Association Denies Claims of a Match Between the Palestinian Team and Israel Under 15

SadaNews - The Palestinian Football Association denied the accuracy of what was circulated through some media outlets regarding claims of a match between the teams of Palestine and Israel under 15 years old, asserting that these allegations are unfounded.

The Association clarified in a statement issued today, Thursday, that it has not received any notification or official proposal from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in this regard, indicating that it was clearly informed not to announce or arrange any match of this kind.

It emphasized its firm position that does not allow for interpretation, rejecting to be part of any initiatives or attempts aimed at imposing a false sports reality with a party that practices, on a daily basis, serious violations against Palestinian athletes and systematically targets individuals and sports infrastructure.

The Association confirmed its categorical rejection of any attempts to use sports as a tool to cover up these violations or to polish the image of an unacceptable reality, pointing out that what is happening on the ground cannot be separated from any sports activity, and any talk about matches in this context is a blatant disregard for the truth.

It noted that Palestinian sports have lost more than 1,000 of its sons and daughters, including former team captain Suleiman Al-Obeid and karate champion Nagham Abu Samra, over the past three years, asserting that these figures reflect the extent of the suffering and targeting faced by the sports sector in Palestine.

It clarified that its priorities lie in protecting the players, defending their rights, and working to achieve justice and accountability according to FIFA regulations and the principles of the Olympic Charter, in addition to continuing legal and sports efforts to ensure accountability for Israel's ongoing violations.

The Association called on the media to practice accuracy and rely on official sources, avoiding the dissemination of misleading or unverified information.

It affirmed its commitment to its national and sports responsibilities, and not to be drawn into attempts to distract attention from the fundamental issues affecting the existence and future of Palestinian athletes.