RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) 鈥� The head of the Palestinian Football Association is waiting in Mexico City for permission to enter the United States with other federation heads attending the .
Jibril Rajoub went to the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday. But he is among several people accredited to attend the World Cup who have been denied visas or have yet to receive them from the United States.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 believe that it鈥檚 fair to use or to abuse and deny the right of all footballers all over the world to attend,鈥� the veteran Palestinian political figure said in an interview with The Associated Press.
The Palestinian team did not qualify for the World Cup, but FIFA typically invites the heads of football associations from around the world to the event every four years, which it frames as a celebration of global unity.
鈥淓veryone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year. We are working exactly for that,鈥� FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last year.
The United States, however, has refused entry to delegates from a raft of countries, including and a photographer traveling with Iraq鈥檚 team.
Infantino said this week that FIFA had been trying to resolve visa issues but could not overrule the U.S. government.
鈥淲e need to respect that we are not the kings of the world who can rule over governments and police forces,鈥� he told reporters on Wednesday.
The U.S. State Department had no immediate comment on Rajoub鈥檚 visa, but last year on Palestinian passport holders, including on anyone who had been employed by the Palestinian Authority.
It to allow Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to the United Nations General Assembly last September.
and other Palestinian soccer officials have long argued that Israel violates statutes by allowing teams from settlements in the occupied West Bank play in Israel鈥檚 national league. They have , also decrying restrictions on the movement of Palestinian players and has damaged or destroyed 80% of sports facilities and killed at least 565 players there, according to the association.
Last month, Rajoub with the head of Israel鈥檚 football federation at Infantino鈥檚 behest because he said the gesture would not heal wounds but instead whitewash Israel鈥檚 actions.
Rajoub pointed out that when Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup, it did not implement comparable visa restrictions for people who were invited to the tournament.
__ Matthew Lee contributed reporting from Washington
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