Following a request by the Palestinians, the FIFA Council decided to look into the Israel Football Association’s potential future participation.

Israel Football Association’s potential

The world football governing body, FIFA, stated on Thursday at their Zurich headquarters how they would respond to a request from the Palestinians to have Israel banned from the sport.

Following Thursday’s decision, FIFA President Gianni Infantino released a statement saying.

The FIFA Council has implemented due diligence on this very sensitive topic and, based on a comprehensive evaluation, we have followed the opinion of the independent experts.”

The continued violence in the region demonstrates that we need peace above all else, as declared at the 74th FIFA Congress.

We implore all parties to immediately restore calm to the region as we are still very disturbed by what is happening and our thoughts are with those who are suffering.

For comments on the ruling, CNN has contacted the Israel Football Association (IFA) and the Palestine Football Association (PFA).

Earlier last year, the PFA demanded that FIFA suspend the IFA, its national teams, and club clubs. The PFA’s initial request was submitted in April, and in May, it was brought up before FIFA’s Congress. A ruling is anticipated in July.

Then, before the statement on Thursday, the timeline for a decision was postponed several times. FIFA did not said when it would make the investigation’s findings public.

Because of the “violation of international law through the occupation of the Gaza Strip; racism and discrimination against

Palestinian athletes in two Israeli clubs; and violation of FIFA statutes through the league participation of five Israeli clubs from illegal settlements on Palestinian territory.

The PFA contended that the IFA ought to be banned from international football.

The IFA has denied these allegations.

The 37 members of the FIFA council were shown the material on Thursday after FIFA tasked an impartial group to compile it.

Following today’s hearing, the FIFA council said that it had approved two conclusions and recommendations.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will be instructed to launch an investigation into the alleged offense of prejudice made by the Palestine Football Association,” the decision said.

“The FIFA Council will receive advice from the FIFA Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee about the investigation and the involvement of Israeli football teams that are purportedly headquartered in Palestine in Israeli competitions.”

Next week, both men’s national teams will play. Palestine meets Iraq in World Cup qualifying on October 10 and Israel plays France in the Nations League on the same day.