Ali El-Khatib during his trial at Hapoel Haifa
[UPDATE 01/28/2012]: Ali El-Khatib made his debut against Maccabi Netanya coming off the bench in the second half.
Ali El-Khatib has caused quite a stir this season. The 22 year-old winger has been nothing short of superlative on the pitch- representing Palestine in Olympic and World Cup qualifying and scoring the match-winning goals against Bahrain and Sudan. Off the pitch, it has been no less eventful for the youngster. In the past six months he:
- Signed with Hilal Al-Quds, scoring on his debut in the Super Cup.
- Scored on his league debut and is later sent off, receiving a 4-month ban.
- After serving out his ban, plays only one additional game garnering $24,000 in wages (according to Hilal Al-Quds)
- Misses top of the table clash against Shabab Al-Khaleel. El-Khatib claims this was due to his wedding being on the same day. Hilal Al-Quds claims the player was paid off by former manager Samer Eissa to throw the match.
- El-Khatib further reveals that he was kidnapped and beaten by thugs hired by Hilal's Chairman Abdel-Qader El-Khatib (no relation) who forced him to sign papers altering his financial compensation.
- After Hilal Al-Quds decides to suspend the player for the rest of the season- the PFA intercedes on his behalf, terminating his contract.
- El-Khatib signs a four and a half year contract with his former club Jabal Al-Mukaber. Reuniting with Samer Eissa, who himself had been let go by Shabab Al-Khaleel.
El-Khatib made his first appearance of the season last week in Jabal Al-Mukaber in their 2-1 win over Thaqafi Tulkarem so news of his imminent move to Hapoel Haifa comes as a surprise. The crux of the disagreement stems from the fact that players arriving from the Israeli league are issued separate Palestinian registration cards. It appears that when Ali El-Khatib moved from Hapoel Shfaram to Jabal Al-Mukaber as a teenager the formal paperwork to obtain his card was not completed.
According to Bokra, Ali El-Khatib made the move after consulting with PFA President Jibril Rajoub and his IFA counterpart, Avi Luzon. El-Khatib claims that Rajoub wished him luck in his future endeavors while Luzon vowed to help him achieve his ambition of playing in Europe even insinuating a possible appearance for the Israeli National Team to help expedite the process. In a parting salvo, El-Khatib did himself no favors by comparing the WBPL to an amateur league and stated that it did not match his ambition.
Hapoel Haifa and Jabal Al-Mukaber might take the matter up with FIFA and CAS and both clubs have grounds in claiming rights to the player (Although Ali El-Khatib told Bokra he did not sign a contract with Jabal Al-Mukaber). A decision by either of these bodies could end up creating some important precedents: Palestinian sides might be forced to deal with the IFA in obtaining the registration of players they want to sign. Or it could create a situation similar to that of Ireland where players born in Northern Ireland are eligible to represent the Republic.
3 comments:
What amuses me is that I remember reading an article in Haaretz (http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/sports/soccer-palestinian-league-free-and-independent-league-1.378647), in which there were complaints from Israeli clubs about player poaching.
The FAs must start talking, despite what goes on politically. I think it'll be for the best.
Yeah I forgot to link to that article... Will do it now. In another twist of irony they actually quote Samer Eissa in that article as well about the entire registration card deal.
Rajoub and his Israeli counterpart did meet up 18 months ago- here they are with Jacques Rogge. (http://images.gazzetta.it/Hermes%20Foto/2011/01/25/0LFBRH4P--300x145.jpg)
I fully accept the argument in opposition to normalization but I think it would be far more effective to channel that frustration towards the Palestinian Authority (who are at the negotiation table just months after swearing never to return until the status quo changed).
I think it is also important to point out that this isn't part of some white-washing endeavor. Like the Peace Teams organized by Shimon Pires.
I have no problem with Ali El-Khatib playing his club football in Israel as long as he is available for the Palestinian National Team (he would be no different than the 70K West Bankers that work in Israel or Arab MKs). In fact, I think we should make it a point to start capping players inside the Green Line who can help the team.
What I do have a problem with is him not honoring a contract and looking for a loophole to get out of it. If he did this after his contract was terminated by Hilal Al-Quds there would be far less of an uproar. But to commit to a club (and wear there shirt less than a week ago) and just quit like that is ungentlemanly and very disrespectful.
Post a Comment