FIFA Chief: I'm an Ambassador of the Palestinians
Sepp Blatter vows to help Palestinians in meeting with Palestinian President Abbas, promises solution for Israeli travel restrictions on soccer players.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter said Monday he is determined to solve the Palestinian Football Association’s ongoing problems with Israel in high-level meetings.
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Some members of the Palestinian national team have been prevented from travel by what Israel calls security restrictions.
The head of the Palestinian association has called for FIFA sanctions against Israel.
Blatter told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a meeting on Monday that “we shall find a solution” but that “it will not be so easy to deal on the other side,” meaning Israel.
Blatter said he will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. The 78-year-old Swiss pledged his support, telling Abbas that “your people, but also your football association, is not alone in the world”.
Blatter said he is a “self-declared ambassador of the Palestine people”.