FIFA Steps Up Efforts To Avoid Israel Expulsion Vote From Reaching Congress

FIFA leaders on Tuesday "stepped up efforts to head off a vote called by Palestine to expel Israel from football's world body claiming unfair treatment of its players," according to the AFP. A top FIFA official said, "Negotiations are still going on but they are very complicated. There may not be a solution until the final hours." FIFA President Sepp Blatter has "held talks" with Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in a bid to "prevent the politically charged vote at a FIFA congress on Friday." FIFA would not discuss the talks. A FIFA spokesperson said that "only Palestine can withdraw the demand to suspend Israel from the agenda." Blatter "strongly opposes the vote saying it is bringing politics into football and that Israel has not breached FIFA's statutes" (AFP, 5/26).