(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) GENEVA, Oct 2 (KUNA) -- FIFA President Gianni Infantino affirmed on Thursday that the world football governing body "cannot solve geopolitical problems" amid growing demands for suspending the Israeli occupation's membership over its crimes in Gaza.
"But it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying educational cultural and humanitarian values," he said in his opening address at the FIFA Council meeting held in (Zurich).
Infantino reiterated FIFA's mission "At FIFA we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world. Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity."
The FIFA chief also revealed on Instagram that he had met with Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub stressing the need to reinforce peace and unity "especially in the catastrophic context in Gaza."
Last year the Palestinian Football Association formally requested FIFA to suspend the membership of the Israeli occupation. However FIFA has so far postponed a decision instead establishing a technical committee to review the request.
In recent months several UN experts and international organizations including Amnesty International have called on FIFA and UEFA to suspend Israeli occupation's membership in light of accusations of committing genocide in Gaza. (end)
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