ZURICH - FIFA has postponed a decision on a Palestinian proposal to ban Israel from international soccer because of its conflict with Hamas, clearing the way for the Israeli men's national team to participate in the Paris Olympics.
World soccer's governing body was due to make a decision at an extraordinary council meeting on Saturday after requesting an independent legal assessment of the Palestinian proposal two months ago. That decision would have come just four days before the start of the Olympic soccer tournament, which has placed Israel in a group with Japan, Mali and Paraguay.
However, FIFA said on Thursday it had pushed back the timetable because "more time is needed to complete this process with due diligence and integrity," meaning a decision will now be made after the Olympics end.
FIFA said both sides had requested extensions "to set out their respective positions" and that the independent assessment would now be communicated to FIFA in August. No later than 31.
The men's Olympic final will take place in August. 9.
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