Jibril Rajoub
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
Palestinian soccer head banned for inciting Messi hatred
Jibril Rajoub is prohibited from attending soccer matches for one year after FIFA imposes minimum ban allowed in its disciplinary code for inciting hatred or violence, following Rajoub's appeal to 'target the Argentinian Football Association and burn jerseys and pictures of Lionel Messi,' to deter Argentina's national team from playing in Israel.
FIFA banned the head of Palestinian soccer from attending matches for a year on Friday for inciting hatred and violence
toward Lionel Messi as part of a campaign to stop Argentina's national team playing in Israel.
The FIFA disciplinary case against Palestinian soccer federation head Jibril Rajoub centered on statements he made to the media before Argentina abruptly abandoned the trip to Jerusalem for a game against Israel in June.
Rajoub "incited hatred and violence" by calling on "football fans to target the Argentinian Football Association and burn jerseys and pictures of Lionel Messi," soccer's governing body said.
Palestinian soccer federation head Jibril Rajoub (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
Justifying canceling the game, Argentina Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie said that the players felt "totally attacked, violated" after images emerged of Argentina's white and sky-blue striped jerseys stained with red paint that resembled blood following Rajoub's comments.
FIFA imposed the minimum ban allowed in its disciplinary code for inciting hatred or violence. It prevents Rajoub from attending matches or engaging with the media at or near stadiums on matchdays for a year from Friday. Rajoub, who is also the head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, was fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,300).
(Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
The ban will apply for the 2019 Asian Cup in United Arab Emirates, which kicks off in January, and likely include the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifying program.
Rajoub is able to continue his day-to-day work running the federation and attend FIFA meetings. He has been a constant thorn in the side of soccer's governing body as he tries to get sanctions imposed on Israel.
At the annual FIFA Congress, Rajoub regularly addresses soccer nations to demand Israel be punished for restricting movement of Palestinian players, and for forming teams in West Bank settlements. Israel has rejected the Palestinian campaign as an attempt to politicize sports and has cited security concerns as the reason behind the occasional restrictions placed on Palestinian players, particularly in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Lionel Messi (Photo: Reuters)
Israel's plan to stage the Argentina game in Jerusalem also incensed Rajoub because Palestinians claim the eastern sector of the city as their capital. Israel considers the entire city to be its capital after capturing east Jerusalem in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said after Argentina canceled the World Cup warm-up match that the team gave in to pressure from "Israeli-hating inciters."
