Wanting to kick it out

Alaa Shahine reports on Arab calls to suspend Israel's membership of international sports organisations
In 1960, the Republic of South Africa was suspended from participating in any regional or international sporting event by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA because of the government's apartheid policy. The ban lasted 32 years until it was lifted in 1992 after the South African government abandoned its racial policies.
Last week, Arab countries called for a similar ban against Israel. The long list of reasons for the Arab demand included the incursion into Palestinian self-rule areas by Israeli troops, racial discrimination against the Palestinians and hurdles put up by the Israeli occupation blocking the progress of Palestinian sports.
In letters addressed to FIFA President Sepp Blatter, Prince Ali, head of the Jordan Football Association and brother of King Abdullah, said Israel's participation in international soccer should be put on hold.
"In order to raise its banner of 'Fair Play,' the entire football community should freeze Israel's participation in this noble sport the same way it did with the former apartheid regime in South Africa," the letter said.
Syrian Football Federation President Farouk Bouzo also wrote to Blatter, asking the international soccer body to suspend Israel. "We want to appeal to FIFA's executive committee to suspend Israel's membership and ban all Israeli football activities in FIFA. Such a decision would be in harmony with FIFA's brave decision to suspend South Africa because of apartheid."
In a letter on Saturday from Prince Sultan Bin Abdel-Aziz, president of both the Saudi and Arab Football Associations, Saudi Arabia also called for Israel's membership in the IOC to be suspended. Prince Sultan sent letters to the IOC and FIFA presidents, calling on them to halt the participation of all Israeli sportsmen in all competitions, "as a vital move aimed at stopping the violence in the occupied Palestinian territories," a Saudi government press release said.
Egypt's calls for Israel's ouster from sports were equally strong. "We are preparing a letter to be sent to FIFA and IOC chairs, demanding the suspension of Israel's membership in all international sports organisations," Hisham Azmi, Egyptian Football Association board member, told Al-Ahram Weekly.
The Egyptian letter cites sanctions imposed on countries other than South Africa. Many nations boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games in a US-led effort following the invasion of Afghanistan by the former Soviet Union. "Another example was in 1992 when Europe banned Yugoslavia from participating in the European Football Cup of Nations as a result of the war in Bosnia," Azmi, a member of FIFA's Panel of Advisers for Special Duties, added.
In 1998, pressure from Arab nations succeeded in reinstating the Palestinian Football Association in FIFA.
This time, Arab countries should take advantage of the situation in the football governing body. "It is an election year at FIFA and the two candidates running for the presidency will have to take a stand concerning the issue of Palestine," Azmi said.
Blatter, the current FIFA boss, enjoys vast Arab support, especially from the influential sports bodies of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while Cameroon's Issa Hayatou, president of the African Football Confederation, has the support of Europe.
Last month, European football's governing body (UEFA) decided not to hold any official football match in Israel for security reasons, forcing Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel Aviv to play Italy's AC Milan in the UEFA Cup semi-final on neutral ground.
Not surprisingly, the Israeli Football Association (IFA) has urged FIFA to ignore Arab appeals. "I hope that you, Mr President, will brush aside any threat made on an association which has always backed FIFA and acts in accordance with sporting principles," Israel's Football Association President Gavri Levy said in a letter.
Levy described the IFA as an independent body not under the influence of Israeli politicians. "Unlike in many countries, the IFA is not connected to politics and is not influenced in any way by the government or even by the sports minister," Levy said.
Levy also reminded Blatter that the IFA had backed the Palestinian FA's request to join the body. He also said that 30 per cent of Israel's registered clubs hail from the Arab sector, and that the Arab sector has four of the 29 delegates on the IFA's management body. At least 10 others sit on various committees.
"Since our formation over 70 years ago, the IFA has acted under one agenda -- complete equality and mutual respect," Levy wrote.
He also listed the names of five Israeli Arabs who have, over the years, played for, or still play on, the Israeli national team.
But Levy failed to remind Blatter how the Israeli authorities are blocking the progress of Palestinian sport. One example: two years ago, Israeli authorities made it exceptionally difficult for the Palestinian national team coach, Mustafa Hamido -- an Egyptian better known as El- Bouri -- to get an entry visa, a matter that affected the team's preparations for the West Asian Games. Moreover, the free movement of players between Gaza and the West Bank continues to be severely hampered.
FIFA had put Azmi in charge of following its Goal Project, which aims at developing football academies and grounds, in Palestine. "Apart from making my life harder by their tight security measures, they blocked my inspection of football venues several times," Azmi told the Weekly. "You can imagine the situation there; no adequate football facilities or grounds and nothing from the so-called mutual cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian football associations."
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