IRAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS ISRAEL RAID ON PALESTINE

Teheran, 4 Shafar 1435H/28 November 2014M (MINA) – The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) has censured the latest Israeli military raid on the headquarters of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) in the occupied West Bank.

“The military campaign of the Zionist regime (of Israel) against the oppressed people of Gaza had not stopped preying on our mind that the regime committed another folly in violation of international laws and regulations against sport,” the FFIRI said in a statement.

The statement further termed Israel’s attack on the premises of the PFA as illogical and contrary to the rules set by FIFA, which specifically prohibit any form of political involvement and/or military action in soccer, Press Tv quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Friday.

The FFIRI also called on members of the international community, especially the governing bodies for football worldwide, to condemn the incident.

On Tuesday, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) decried the assault on the Palestinian soccer body.

On Monday, Israeli soldiers broke into PFA headquarters in the Palestinian town of al-Ram, situated eight kilometers (4.9 miles) north of al-Quds (Jerusalem), ransacked it and assaulted its employees.

PFA President Jibril Rajoub described the raid as an attempt by the Tel Aviv regime to undermine Palestinian sports, and called for international condemnation of the incident.

The Israeli regime has imposed travel restrictions on Palestinian footballers in the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip.

Despite all limitations, Palestinians managed in May to qualify for the 16th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Australia from January 9 to 31, 2015. (T/P002/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)