Israeli club to compensate Palestinian side in player dispute

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - FIFA has ordered Israeli premier league club Hapoel Haifa and their former player, Ali Khatib, to compensate Palestinian side Jabal al-Mukabbar after Khatib left them without authorisation.





Jabal al-Mukabbar, based in Arab East Jerusalem claimed that Israeli-born Khatib, who also played as an international for Palestine, walked out on them in 2012 to join Hapoel Haifa without telling them.

A document obtained by Reuters said FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber ruled Hapoel Haifa and Khatib must pay Jabal al-Mukabbar 450,000 shekels ($113,500).

It is thought to be the first time an Israeli club has been ordered to compensate a Palestinian side in a dispute.

Movement of players between Israeli and Palestinian clubs is very rare. Despite living side by side the respective teams do not interact as Israel are members of European soccer's governing body, UEFA, and the Palestinians play in Asia.

Khatib was born in the Arab town of Shfaram near Haifa in northern Israel.

He has spent most of his career in Israel but between 2009-2012 he played for Jabal al-Mukabbar and Hilal al-Quds, another Palestinian club based in East Jerusalem.

Khatib currently plays for Israeli second division side Ahi Nazareth, one of Israel's top Arab teams.

He has played six matches for Palestine and has scored two goals.









(Writing by Ori Lewis, editing by Ed Osmond)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world