Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, says he is waiting in Mexico City for permission to enter the United States to attend the FIFA World Cup with other federation heads. He attended the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday but has now joined several accredited individuals who have been denied visas or are still waiting.

“I don’t believe that it’s fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend,” Rajoub told The Associated Press. Although the Palestinian team did not qualify, FIFA typically invites association heads to the event as a celebration of global unity.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last year, “Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year.” However, the US regime has refused entry to delegates from several countries, including a Somali referee and an Iraqi team photographer.

Infantino stated this week that FIFA had been trying to resolve visa issues but could not overrule the US regime. The US State Department had no immediate comment on Rajoub’s visa but last year implemented new restrictions on Palestinian passport holders, revoking a visa for President Mahmoud Abbas.

Rajoub and other Palestinian officials have long argued that Israel violates statutes by allowing settlement teams from the occupied West Bank to play in Israel’s national league. They have pushed FIFA to sanction Israel, highlighting movement restrictions and the destruction of 80% of sports facilities in Gaza, with at least 565 players killed.

Last month, Rajoub refused to shake hands with the head of Israel’s football federation, saying the gesture would whitewash Israel’s actions. He noted that when Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup, it did not impose comparable visa restrictions on invited guests.

Source: www.aljazeera.com