The Palestinian request was submitted in May. FIFA promised an expedited process and a special meeting of the executive committee in July. When the scheduled date arrived, FIFA postponed the decision by a month. The new delay means the request won’t be considered before the committee’s next meeting, for which a specific date has not yet been set.

The Palestinian Football Association alleges that the Israeli government is violating international law. It also says that there is discrimination against Arab players and against soccer clubs in the West Bank. It also says that Israel has destroyed several soccer facilities, killed at least 92 players and forced its national team to host World Cup qualifiers in other countries.