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Lionel Messi: Palestinian FA president Jibril Rajoub banned for 'inciting hatred and violence'

By Mutala Yakubu
Lionel Messi was featured in a mural painting on Israel's separation barrier in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, kicking a ball which destroys the Israeli flag
Lionel Messi was featured in a mural painting on Israel's separation barrier in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, kicking a ball which destroys the Israeli flag
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Fifa has given the president of the Palestinian Football Association a 12-month suspension after he urged fans to burn Lionel Messi shirts and pictures.

Jibril Rajoub has also been fined 20,000 Swiss francs (£15,826) for "inciting hatred and violence" with statements made before a friendly between Argentina and Israel.

The match was due to take place in June in Jerusalem but was then cancelled.

Rajoub will not be able to attend football matches in any capacity.

In June, Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie had said he believed his country's footballers "were not willing to play the game" against Israel.

After the match was cancelled, the Palestinian FA issued a statement thanking Messi and his team-mates.

"What happened... is a red card from the rest of the world to Israelis," Rajoub told a news conference, having earlier accused Israel of using the match as a "political tool".

The Israel FA said it viewed "with severity the physical and brutal threats, which crossed every red line, made by" Rajoub.

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It also vowed to "do everything in its power in the world football institutions to make Rajoub and the Palestinian FA accountable".

Source: BBC

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