Israel Football Association

Israel Football Association
UEFA
Founded 14 August 1928 (1928-08-14)
FIFA affiliation 17 May 1929 (1929-05-17)[1]
UEFA affiliation 1994
Chairman Shino Zuaretz
Website football.org.il

The Israel Football Association (IFA; Hebrew: ההתאחדות לכדורגל בישראל‎, HaHit'aḥdut leKaduregel beIsrael, literally "The Association of Football in Israel") is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes a variety of association football leagues, Israel State Cup, and the Israel national football team. The IFA was founded in 1928 as the Palestine Football Association and is based in Ramat Gan.

History

Old Logo

The Palestine Football Association (PFA) or Eretz Israel Football Association, was founded in a meeting held on 14 August 1928,[2][3] and applied for membership of FIFA. It was admitted provisionally on 17 December 1928, affiliated on 17 May 1929 and recognised by FIFA's government on 6 July 1929. The PFA changed its name to the Israel Football Association (IFA) following the founding of the state of Israel in 1948.[1]

The IFA was a member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) from 1954 until 1974, when it was expelled due to political pressure from Arab and Muslim members that refused to play against Israel. From then until 1992, the IFA was not affiliated with any confederation. During this period, the Israeli national teams played only in FIFA competitions and occasionally in OFC, UEFA and CONMEBOL qualifying tournaments.

In 1992, the IFA was admitted to UEFA as an associate member, becoming a full member two years later. Since 1992, Israeli clubs have played in the various UEFA club competitions, while the national teams have played in UEFA championships.

Awards and recognition

In 1979, Yosef Yekutieli, the founder of the IFA, was awarded the Israel Prize "for dedicating his life to promoting and laying the international foundation of Israeli sports."[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Member Association - Israel". FIFA. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  2. ↑ An Establishment Meeting for a E.I. Sportive Association Do'ar HaYom, 5 August 1928, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  3. ↑ In the World of Sport Davar, 31 August 1928, Historical Jewish Press (in Hebrew)
  4. ↑ Sport, Politics and Society in Israel: The First Fifty-five Years

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