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.

See also

References

External links


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