According to Mehr’s reporter, the Palestinian national football team in the Asian Cup of Nations managed to enter the knockout stage of the Asian Nations Cup for the first time in history by winning against Hong Kong and drawing against the UAE in a group that included Iran, the UAE and Hong Kong.
The Palestinian national football team is participating in this tournament while this country is under heavy attacks by the Zionist army and football is one of the joys of the people of this country these days.
In an interview with “Al Jazeera” news site, “Jebril Al-Rajoub”, the head of the Palestinian Football Federation, discussed the situation of this team in this tournament.
The head of the Palestinian Football Federation said about the concept of football in the eyes of the people of Gaza: We, the Palestinian football family, believe that this sport can be a good tool to expose the suffering of the Palestinian people and highlight their determination and commitment to achieve their goals. The success of the national team in the midst of such a terrible situation where thousands of people are buried in the midst of destruction, crimes and genocide makes our players try to achieve something valuable for their people. Advancing to the elimination stage of the Asian Nations Cup is a great achievement and a message of hope for the Palestinian people.
Regarding the team’s difficulties in training and preparing for this tournament, he said: It was not an easy task at all. We have very good players in Palestine who cannot join other teams. But we will never give up. In the West Bank, they are trying to suffocate everyone. They want everyone to leave, but we are there and we will stay. Despite the gap that the occupying regime has created between Palestine and Gaza, we are united. Among the sports teams, the football team is the only team that is active at the moment, so we are trying to keep all the players outside of Palestine to try to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and participate in other events like this. For this purpose, we are going to travel to South Africa and have a preparatory meeting with the national football team of this country on Nelson Mandela’s anniversary. We have no choice but to continue and not give up. We will not leave our country. We do not leave the house.
Regarding the support that FIFA can give to this team, “Jebril Al-Rajoub” said: There is a double policy. FIFA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) must follow one standard and one policy. The Zionist Football Association is holding official league games in the occupied Palestinian territories, which is a clear violation of the FIFA statutes and the Olympic Charter. Secondly, I have never heard of a sports organization in Israel attacking, destroying and killing players [فلسطینی] Criticize your government. We continue to press the International Olympic Committee and FIFA to follow their principles. I hope the international community, both sports and civil societies, understand that it is time to punish this regime with a red card. They have no right to deprive others of their rights while they themselves enjoy these rights.
Regarding the effects of the Zionist regime’s attacks on Gaza on the concentration of the country’s players, he said: There is definitely this effect. Imagine a player who is a family member, friend or relative in Gaza. This is a painful tragedy. But giving up is not part of our plan. All of us mentally and physically [از این جنگ] We are affected, but we must continue our fight.
Regarding the future of the team’s players after the end of the Asian Nations Cup, he said: “We are the people of Palestine, and our situation and fate are the same as other people of this country.” We go home, meet our families and try again to go somewhere else to train and race. Exercise is part of our resistance. Sports is part of our national duty towards the people.