KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: FIFA, despite all its best efforts to put off a decision, has run out of time in deciding how to respond to a demand for action against the Israel Football Federation.

In March the world football federation, at its congress, postponed the latest of a string of such proposals down the years from the Palestine Football Association.

The issue was referred to a late spring meeting of the FIFA Council but then, as the military situation in the Middle East deteriorated, a decision was postponed yet again.

Thursday’s council meeting sees FIFA and president Gianni Infantino running out of road.

The council agenda includes a “proposal submitted by the Palestine Football Association at the 74th FIFA congress.”

The Palestine FA believes Israel’s federation has committed “violations of FIFA regulations” and wants sanctions against the country’s “national teams and clubs”.

Israel is already barred from staging international matches on home territory out of security concerns. The national team are due to host France and play in Italy during this month’s international break.

The Israelis claim that the PFA is capitalising on the situation on the ground to push a long-running agenda.

IFF president Shino Moshe Zuares has described the PFA acton as “a cynical political and hostile attempt to harm Israeli football.”

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