World governing soccer body, FIFA, has started disciplinary proceedings against the Palestinian Football Association’s chief, Jibril Rajoub, over his comment against Lionel Messi.
Rajoub had urged fans to burn pictures, shirt of Argentina captain, Messi if he played against Israel in Jerusalem.
Jorge Sampaoli’s men were billed to play at Jerusalem’s Teddy Kollek Stadium in a World Cup warm-up match.
The match was eventually cancelled and Rajoub played a major part.
On Thurday, FIFA confirmed that it had opened an enquiry.
“The FIFA disciplinary committee has opened disciplinary proceedings against the president of the Palestinian Football Association, Jibril Rajoub,” the soccer body said in a statement.
“The decision came as a result of his statements, widely reported in the media, with respect to the international friendly match that was scheduled to take place on 9 June 2018 between Israel and Argentina.”
Rotem Kamer, vice-president of the Israeli FA, has accused Rajoub of “football terror”.
The association’s chairman, Ofer Eini, said in a statement Thursday that Rajoub had “crossed each and every red line”.
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