OCTOBER

MANAMA

FIFA will rule on the issue of Israeli clubs playing in the West Bank in October, president Gianni Infantino said on Thursday, once again delaying a decision on the contentious issue.

Fifa’s annual Congress voted to back — by a majority of 73 to 27 per cent — a proposal that pushed football’s governing body to report by March 2018, but Infantino said feedback would come before then.

“We will take responsibility and we will take a decision on this matter,” he said.

He said a decision would be made at the next Fifa Council meeting, which takes place in India on Oct 27.

The Palestine Football Association (PFA) argue that the presence of six Israeli clubs on their territory is in breach of Fifa statutes, which forbids another member association playing on another territory without permission.

Israel argues that Fifa rules are unenforceable as there is no permanent