The Coalition for Accountability and Integrity – AMAN has sent a letter to Foreign Minister Mr. Riyad AlMalki
before the FIFA meeting in Bahrain, calling for participants countries from the General Assembly
meeting to not comply with Israeli pressure. The letter came after the announcement of corruption
opportunities in FIFA, and in the fear of the Israeli’s to pressure the representatives of the Member
States.
Israel has succeeded in postponing the voting on the Palestinian Football Association’s request to
impose measures on six soccer teams established in settlements and active in the Israeli league in the
congress meeting, whereas article No.2.72 of the FIFA constitution states that it is forbidden to establish
football teams in the territory of another political entity that is a member of FIFA without the consent of
the political entity.
AMAN coalition fears that the Israeli government will tend to lure or bribe some representatives of the
member states to vote against the demand that the Israeli teams of the settlements be considered
contrary to international law by exercising their sports activities in the occupied Palestinian territories,
stressing the role of the Palestinian Football Association and the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
to contact all representatives to stand against any pressure or temptations made by the Israeli
government.
Moreover, AMAN has noted that the Israeli government tends to use such corrupt act to win all favors,
whereas Israel has decided to cut 2 Million Dollars of its contributions to the United Nations after its
vote in the UN Human Rights Council on 4 resolutions in favor of Palestine.
Dr. Azmi Shuaibi, Consultant of the AMAN's Board of Directors reported that two years ago there was
suspicion of corruption or bribery due to the absence of the Nigerian representative in voting in the
Security Council on a project aims to end the Israeli occupation, although Nigeria had pledged to the
Palestinian Authority to support the draft resolution, and Nigeria’s vote was suppose to be the ninth
vote guaranteeing the majority and acceptance of the draft later on.
