Next week, at the annual FIFA Council and Congress, member states of the world football association are expected to vote on a Palestinian-led campaign to ban the Israeli Football Association from the organization.

On this occasion ,the Israeli-Jewish Congress (IJC) launched a campaign under the theme: ‘’Tell FIFA to give hate against Israel a Red Card’’. It says it is working closely with Jewish communities and pro-Israel allies in Europe and around the world. A social-media campaign was also initiated.

IJC President Vladimir Sloutsker has written to FIFA President Gianni Infanto and the Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee on Israel-Palestine, Toko Sexwale, in which he asked them to speak out against such a move to ban Israel which, they sau, ‘’is wholly contrary to the FIFA Mission ‘’Football for all.’’

‘’Like peace, football requires two sides. Whereas football can be a wonderful vehicle to promote peace , tolerance and friendship, this campaign will only promote hatred, breed intolerance and attack the State of Israel, the sole democracy in the region,’’ he wrote.

He said FIFA should utilize the power of football ‘’to bring Israelis and Palestinians closer together and promote joint peace initiatives instead of singling out, attacking and banning Israel.’’