Jibril Rajoub
Photo: Zoom 77
FIFA appeals to Israel on behalf of Rajoub
International football federation urges Jewish state to return Palestinian official's VIP pass, which was revoked following UN statehood recognition
The penalty kick Jibril Rajoub got from Israel has reached the offices of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), which is demanding that the Jewish state return his VIP pass.
Rajoub serves as president of the Palestinian Football Federation alongside his membership in the Fatah movement, which controls the Palestinian Authority.
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As part of his role, he holds a VIP pass which grants him free movement within the West Bank and through the Allenby Bridge, allowing him to cross to Jordan and travel to different destinations worldwide.
An official who does not hold the desired certificate must go through the bureaucratic process of having a permit issued by the Civil Administration every time he seeks to travel abroad.
As part of its punitive measures against the Palestinians after the PA was recognized as a non-member state by the United Nations General Assembly, Israel revoked the VIP passes of some Palestinian officials.
Since then, Rajoub has been encountering difficulties in his attempts to travel abroad to promote Palestinian soccer.
International reactions were soon to follow: Several days ago, Israel Football Association President Avi Luzon received a letter from FIFA Secretary-General Jérôme Valcke, who protested the Israeli punishment and asked that Israel return Rajoub's pass in order to allow him to attend events around the world.
