Israel and Palestine are the two States with no so good democratic relations, but that doesn’t mean their soccer players do not want to play with each other – they do – but border restrictions often cause a great distress for both of them especially for Palestinian players who want to visit an Israeli occupied area for soccer events frequently. Last month, many players including FIFA officials were denied on the border to enter within Israel, later Palestinian football association asked for world governing body’s intervention into the matter; perhaps they even requested for a ban. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has ever been a person who loves to expend relations via sports not to contract them and that is why he has promised on many global events that he wants to see both these nations play each other without any political barrier; now his dreams look to be coming true coz he could successfully hold a meeting between both Israeli FA chairman and his Palestinian counterpart at FIFA headquarters in Zurich recently. As far global recognition is concerned, both these nations have a deep ranking, yet they are the hottest commodity if they could improve their sports relations.
Over the years, many Palestinian athletes along with football players denied visiting West Bank which is an Israeli occupied territory, and if top officials of both these States could find out a way to impart in more mutual events, it would be the greatest achievement for Blatter. Describing about the first ever meet between delegates of both these football associations, he said, “At the start, I have to say it was very lively, both of the presidents wanted to express a little bit what they had on their heart. I cannot say any more, but at the end it was trust, confidence and football.
“We have given responsibility to the two associations to work together but we will monitor the different steps. The idea is that, at the end of the year, when we come together at the FIFA executive committee, we will have a solution of how to make it easier for footballers to move in the region. We can say today was historic…it was the first time the two presidents spoke with each other. Even when they were at the FIFA Congress, they just looked at each other and moved away.”
Blatter even lays down year-end as the deadline he expects a solution by which will later be discussed with the political authorities to find out an authoritative way to organize multinational soccer events in this part of the world.