ZURICH: FIFA has postponed a decision on a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer because of the conflict with Hamas, clearing the way for the Israeli men鈥檚 national team to play at the Paris Olympics.
Soccer鈥檚 world governing body had been set to make a decision Saturday at an extraordinary council meeting after asking for an independent legal assessment of the Palestinian proposal two months ago. That decision would have come just four days before the start of the Olympic soccer tournament, where Israel has been drawn into a group with Japan, Mali and Paraguay.
However, FIFA said Thursday that it had pushed back the timeline because 鈥渕ore time is needed to conclude this process with due care and completeness鈥� 鈥� meaning a decision is now set to come after the Olympics have finished.
FIFA said both parties had made requests for extensions 鈥渢o submit their respective positions鈥� and that the independent assessment will now be shared with FIFA by Aug. 31 at the latest.
The men鈥檚 Olympic final is set to take place on Aug. 9.