Canada blocks Palestinian delegates from attending FIFA Congress
Our diplomatic recognition is worth nothing in practice.
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As most people are aware, even those who are not interested in footy, FIFA is hosting the 23rd edition of the World Cup this summer in North America, spread across the United States, Canada, and México. And considering the current state of political affairs in the Yankee Empire, there has been some concern over their hosting of FIFA matches, as many temporary visitors from around the world, many of whom are not white, will be forced to contend with the normalized presence of racist ICE thugs in airports and on the streets.
Indeed, people from multiple African countries participating in the World Cup will be forced to pay a USD$15,000 bond to enter the United States for the games. This outrageous sum is not solely for fans, but also extends to players and coaches as well. In regard to Iran, Donald Trump has threatened the “life and safety” of the Iranian team if they choose to attend, and FIFA has rejected Iran’s request to move their games from the United States to México, undoubtedly the safest of the three host countries.
Yet it is now Canada which falls under scrutiny for creating an unwelcoming atmosphere towards a national football association. On April 30th, FIFA will be holding their Congress in Vancouver prior to the World Cup, an occasion on which they can conduct their governance of football globally. Regardless of whether a nation has qualified for the World Cup, all national associations recognized by FIFA are entitled to send their delegates to participate in the Congress and have a say in the future of the sport.
As such, it is Canada which must issue visas to delegates attending this international body, an organized event which Canada considers legitimate and participates in themselves. Yet The Guardian reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has denied visas to the three primary delegates attending on behalf of the Palestinian Football Association. This is curious, as Canada claims to now recognize the State of Palestine, and these are delegates from a body sanctioned by the Palestinian government, a body which has been a FIFA member since 1998. On what basis does Canada refuse their participation in the FIFA Congress?
On this basis, I reached out to Minister Lena Diab, the Liberal MP who Prime Minister Mark Carney has placed in charge of this portfolio. As I phrased it to her press secretary, “Can Minister Diab conform whether IRCC will allow any Palestinian delegates to attend the FIFA Congress? Are Palestinian delegates from the state that Canada recognizes allowed to attend any international conferences in Canada at all?”
Minister Diab’s press secretary did respond, in a sense, but insisted to me that without a signed consent form from the three barred delegates, they will not provide details regarding this case. Speaking more generally, they insist that “visa applications are considered on a case-by-case basis based on the information presented by the applicant” and that regardless of nationality, all visa applicants must comply with eligibility and admissibility requirements.
Yet there has been no other case of a country’s delegates being denied the ability to enter Canada for April 30th’s FIFA Congress. It is only the Palestinians, to public knowledge, that have been treated in this way. Further damning, The Guardian’s reporting indicates that the Palestinian delegation was planning to discuss FIFA’s recent decision regarding matches played in Israeli settlement colonies.
Absent a change in the Carney government’s policy, or absent alternative Palestinian delegates that Canada will allow, it appears Palestine will be shut out of international organizations yet again, one more example of the Palestine Exception. And for all that Canada can claim to “recognize” Palestine, our recognition clearly means nothing when we treat them this way. Today, it is not the United States nor Israel who are closing the door on Palestinians.
No, today, it is us.