Israel asks FIFA to condemn Palestinian FA chief's remarks

Israel has asked FIFA to condemn the recent comments of the president of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, who glorified Palestinian attacks against Israelis.

Jerusalem: Israel has asked FIFA to condemn the recent comments of the president of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, who in a recent interview glorified Palestinian attacks against Israelis and says he believes the perpetrators are courageous heroes.

In a letter sent on Thursday, the Israeli Minister of Sports and Culture, Miri Regev, asked FIFA to condemn the recent "inciting" statements of Rajoub in an interview broadcast last week on the local Channel 10, Efe reported.

Regev said that the president of the Palestinian association is spearheading a campaign of libel and incitement.

She urged the global football body to issue a "clear and unequivocal condemnation" and to summon Rajoub to clarify his remarks.

During the interview Rajoub justified the Palestinian individual attacks against Israelis in the Palestinian occupied territories, and said the "crimes of the occupation" are much worse than these attacks.

Rajoub, who has repeatedly called for FIFA to punish Israel for its policies towards Palestinians, has not yet commented on the Israeli complaint.