The head of the association, Sepp Blatter, himself under suspicion, with rumors of improper personal and financial behavior, nevertheless was reelected to serve for a fifth term as the executive head of FIFA. His declared rival for the position was from a Moslem country and was backed by the large Moslem representation in FIFA.

 

For reasons that remain unclear and somewhat murky, this rival withdrew his candidacy at the last moment thus allowing the reelection of Sepp Blatter unopposed. But as far as we here in Israel were concerned, all of this was only a sideshow to what to us was the main issue under discussion and up for voting in the convention of FIFA - the resolution put forward by the Palestinian Authority to expel Israel from membership in the  august  body of FIFA.

 

This tactic of the Palestinian Authority was part of its overall strategy of conducting a diplomatic intifada against Israel in all international bodies where Israel is now a member. It is part of the Palestinian campaign to have the United Nations pass Security Council resolutions against Israel and to make the State of Israel vulnerable to international sanctions, in the event that these resolutions are somehow not abided by. So this question, as to whether Israel would be expelled from the world soccer federation, carried with it grave potential for future more serious damage to the Jewish state.

 

The attempt of the Palestinian Authority to accomplish its goal failed when it became apparent, even to the Palestinians that the resolution would not pass at this year’s conference. There were attempts in the days before the resolution would have to come to a vote to engineer a compromise. This would give the Palestinians a moral victory and some concessions on the grounds that they demanded.

 

Israel stood firm in opposing such a resolution, claiming correctly that it would only open the door to constant resolutions regarding Israel. So at the end of the day, nothing really happened. Israel is still a member of FIFA and the Palestinians have promised to continue to kick the can down the road and bring up the issue again when the soccer association once meets in its annual gathering.

 

But it is interesting to note that there is no moral hesitation on the part of an organization riddled with corruption and exposed as being venal, indecent and unfair, to sit and pontificate about absurd charges of oppression and discrimination brought against the State of Israel. Since hypocrisy is the gristmill of all diplomacy, one should not be surprised, shocked or disappointed about the behavior of FIFA. Those who proclaim themselves to be the champions of sport, fairness and inclusion are really robbers, exploiters and unprincipled haters.

 

It makes no difference to me whether Israel belongs to FIFA or not. I am not that much of a soccer fan. I find it disturbing though that many of the soccer matches that take place here in Israel involve desecrating the holiness of the Sabbath day. If I were a holy person that had intimate connections with Heaven, I would be tempted to say, in this instance, it is no accident or coincidence that the attempt to expel Israel from a world organization should involve FIFA and soccer.

 

Nevertheless, I am delighted that the efforts of the Palestinians have failed and that Israel still remains a member in good standing of FIFA. However, I am reminded of the famous quip of Groucho Marx that he really would not want to be a member of any group that would accept him as a member. It seems to me that there is little honor being associated with FIFA and its corrupt practices and officials. But apparently we are not in a position to refuse even the smallest of crumbs extended to us by the international community.

 

So, we should feel some satisfaction in the fact that we are still a member in good standing of an organization that itself is not in such good standing. I know that there is irony in this but we live in a very ironic world. In Yiddish word the “fife” is a word of derision and scorn. Well I for one say, ‘fife’ on FIFA.

 

Shabbat shalom

 

Berel Wein