Palestinian Football Association

Palestinian Football Association
AFC

Founded	1928
FIFA affiliation	1995 (Provisional member),^[1] 1998
AFC affiliation	1995 (Provisional member), 1998
WAFF affiliation	2000
President	Jibril Rajoub
Website	pfa.ps

The Palestinian Football Association (Arabic: الاتحاد الفلسطيني لكرة القدم‎) is the governing body for football in the State of Palestine (former Palestinian Authority), and for the men's Palestine national football team and the Palestine women's national football team.^[2]

History

Mandatory Palestine

Football gained mass popularity in the British Mandate of Palestine, and the Eretz Israel football association was formed in 1928 and applied to join FIFA as a mainly Jewish organisation.^[3] It was accepted in 1929 and Israel Football Association is considered as its successor.^[4]^[5] Participation in the qualifiers for the 1934 World Cup meant that Mandatory Palestine national football team was the first Asian team to compete in any stage of the World Cup.

Palestinian Arab club

A new Palestine Football Federation was founded in 1952. Its successor, the Palestine Football Association, formed in 1962, has been a member of the Union of Arab Football Associations since it was formed in 1974.

Palestinian Authority

It was accepted as a member by FIFA in 1998,^[6] after the creation of the Palestinian Authority. The PFA has also been a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) since 1998, in the West Asian Football Federation.

On 11 February 2011, the PFA formed the first women's league.^[7]

Divisions

The football division system is parted into two: the West Bank and Gaza Strip. There is a men's West Bank Premier League and a men's Gaza Strip League as well as a West Bank Women's League. Each league has 12 clubs.

References

↑ Presidential Election Item 13 on FIFA Congress Agenda FIFA.com
↑ http://www.vice.com/read/football-israel-palestine-discrimination-fifa
↑ http://football.org.il/Association/ResearchUnit/ResearchFiles/The%20early%20development%20of%20Hebrew%20football%20in%20Eretz%20Israel,%201910-1928.pdf
↑ http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=isr/
↑ http://www.footballtop.com/countries/israel
↑ http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=ple/
↑ the-afc.com; 11 February 2011, Women’s league kicks-off in Palestine

External links

Football in Palestine

Palestinian Football Federation

National teams	Men's Women's U-23 U-20 U-17

Leagues	Gaza Strip League Gaza Strip First League West Bank Premier League West Bank First League West Bank Second League Palestine Women's League

Cups	Palestine Cup Yasser Arafat Cup

Defunct competitions	Palestine Premier League

International association football

FIFA Federations Teams Competitions World Cup U-17 U-20 Confederations Cup Olympics Youth Olympics Universiade World Rankings Player of the Year Ballon d'Or

Asia	AFC – Asian Cup U-23 U-19 U-16 U-14 Regional (ASEAN, EAFF, SAFF, WAFF)

Africa	CAF – Africa Cup of Nations U-23 U-20 U-17 Regional (CECAFA, CEMAC, COSAFA, WAFU)

North America, Central America and the Caribbean	CONCACAF – Gold Cup U-20 U-17 U-15

South America	CONMEBOL – Copa América U-20 U-17 U-15

Oceania	OFC – Nations Cup U-20 U-17

Europe	UEFA – European Championship U-21 U-19 U-17

Non-FIFA	NF-Board – Viva World Cup CONIFA - ConIFA World Football Cup ConIFA European Football Cup IGA - Island Games

Games	All-Africa Games Asian Games Central America Central America and Caribbean East Asian Games Francophonie Games Indian Ocean Island Lusophony Games Mediterranean Games Pan American Games Pan Arab Games Pacific Games South Asian Games Southeast Asian Games

See also Geography Debuts Codes Player of the Century Achievements by nation Women's football

National football associations of Asia (AFC)

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