FIFA has fined the Israel Football Association (IFA) 150,000 Swiss francs ($190,000) for breaching anti-discrimination regulations but declined to act on a Palestinian request to suspend Israel from international football over clubs based in West Bank settlements.
The world football body said its disciplinary panel found the IFA responsible for discrimination, racist abuse, offensive conduct and violations of fair play, including tolerance of politicised and militaristic messaging by Beitar Jerusalem supporters and the systemic exclusion of Palestinians from football infrastructure in settlements. One third of the fine must be used on reforms, monitoring and educational campaigns to prevent future incidents.
FIFA’s ruling council, chaired by President Gianni Infantino, decided not to pursue formal Palestinian complaints lodged in 2024, saying the final legal status of the West Bank remains unresolved under international law.
Separately, Infantino rejected Iranian requests to move their 2026 World Cup group matches from the United States to Mexico, stating the tournament should proceed as scheduled. Iran is due to play two matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.
Infantino said FIFA cannot resolve geopolitical conflicts but aims to use football to promote peace, adding that no team has withdrawn from a World Cup since 1950 and altering fixtures for political reasons would be unprecedented.