A leading FIFA representative tried on Friday (2nd October) to defuse a row between Israel and Palestine.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

A Palestine proposal to throw Israel out of FIFA for obstructing the free movement of players and equipment was dropped at the FIFA Congress in May.

Instead, they settled for the establishment of a monitoring group led by South African businessman and human rights activist Tokyo Sexwale.

But a recent move to switch Palestine's forthcoming World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia from home soil to neutral ground has caused anger in the region.

Palestine's FA has protested both to FIFA President Sepp Blatter and to Asian Football Association chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

Sheikh Salman was one of the three pivotal figures, along with Michel Platini and Kuwait's Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah, who made the decision in favour of the Saudis.

Blatter has made it a priority to try and build lasting trust between Palestinian and Israeli officials.

To that end, Sexwale proposed a symbolic game between Israel and Palestine.

Tel Aviv, Israel. 2nd October, 2015.

1. 00:00 Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel and Palestine, Tokyo Sexwale, walking in corridor.

2. 00:13 Sexwale walking into press room.

3. 00:21 Cameraman.

4. 00:24 SOUNDBITE (English): Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, Israel & Palestine

(Is he still considering running for FIFA president?) "I have issued a statement when the rumours started following the meeting with the FIFA draw in St. Petersburg. But I will apply my mind. There is a still a deadline I think it ends on the 26th of this month? Yes. But we still have some days and I am sure that in the right time I will make a pronouncement."

5. 00:53 Cameraman.

6. 00:57 SOUNDBITE (English): Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, Israel and Palestine:

(How does he think FIFA was damaged by the criminal investigation opened into Sepp Blatter?) "I think for the purpose of this meeting I would like refrain from talking about the problems of FIFA. They are there, you know them and there will be relevant people to deal with that. But one hopes that at the end of the day for the sake of football again as it is played by small children in the dusty bowls of Chad or outside of the earthquake of Nepal, as it is played by Messi and Ronaldo, I hope that in the interest of the beautiful game FIFA will find a resolution to it's problems. I have opinions, very strong ones, but I don't think this press conference is for that."

7. 01:44 Cameraman.

8. 01:49 SOUNDBITE (English): Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, Israel and Palestine:

"This is our meeting number one. We are all engaged and I find that all parties are interested in finding solutions that will make the play an enjoyment of football to be fulfilled. The question we are still going to be discussing is the one of the territories, and we are mindful that that question if resolution, belongs to political authorities, both here in Israel and elsewhere because this question has been internationalised. But I want to make it very clear, it is not a FIFA issue it is not our problem sitting inside this meeting, but it is a problem that is confronting football, and we have to come to a resolution of that problem, advising the relevant political authorities both here in Israel and elsewhere, to assist us in resolution of that problem."

9. 02:55 Cameraman.

10. 02:57 SOUNDBITE (English): Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee, Israel and Palestine:

"I proposed the meeting between the national team of Israel and the national team of Palestine to take place in South Africa. It is my proposal - not at today's meeting, but I proposed it at our meeting in Zurich, what we call the kick off meeting that was chaired by Mr. Blatter. So I hope that when all is said and done, there will be that kind of game because we had used football quite a lot in other situations to bring friendship and peace among people."

11. 03:34 Sexwale, Ofer Eini, head of the Israeli Football Association and Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association.

Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestine Football Association, said on Monday (25th May) that he was pressing on with his bid to oust Israel from FIFA, despite efforts from its president to diffuse the crisis.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The head of the Palestine Football Association said on Monday he was pressing on with his bid to oust Israel from FIFA despite efforts from its president to diffuse the crisis.

Jibril Rajoub said he "will not withdraw the motion and will not accept any compromise and any side deals."

FIFA President Sepp Blatter was recently in the region on a self-described "mission of peace" to resolve tensions between the two sides.

Palestinians say Israeli security restrictions are limiting the movement of Palestinian players, visiting teams and equipment.

They have put forward a proposal to suspend Israel from world football at the 209-nation FIFA meeting on 29th May.

Blatter opposes the suspension vote, saying Israel has not broken FIFA statutes in a political issue outside of football's control.

Al-Ram, West Bank. 25th May, 2015.

1. 00:00 Wide of Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestine Football Association arriving.

2. 00:08 Various of news conference.

3. 00:17 SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestine Football Association:

"This time we presented a motion to suspend Israel's membership of FIFA, if it doesn't commit to solve those three problems; the movement (the limitation of movement), the manifestations of racism and fascism that they have and the third thing, the presence of five clubs in the occupied Palestinian territories."

4. 00:46 Cutaway.

5. 00:51 SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestine Football Association:

"This is our position and this is our motion, and we will not withdraw the motion, and will not accept any compromise and any side deals."

6. 01:04 Wide of news conference

7. 01:09 SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestine Football Association:

"The Israeli federation is a partner of the Israeli government in these crimes, by their constant defence and justification of the Israeli violations. And they did not even condemn some of the violations that there is no argument about it, that it is not related to the sports, and it is only related to an official terrorism practiced by Israel."

8. 01:47 Cutaway.

9. 01:52 Sign.

10. 01:57 Various exteriors of building.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 02:07.

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SHOTLIST: Gaza - 1st July, 2016

Gaza Strip, Beith Lahya - 1st July 2016

1. 00.00 Wide shot of Palestinian Football Association building which was destroyed in 2014 Israel-Gaza war

2. 00.06 Close of the building

3. 00.10 Tokyo Sexwale, chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine arriving at Palestinian Football Association building

4. 00.17 Various of Tokyo Sexwale inspecting Palestinian FA building

5. 01.47 Wide shot of Sexwale presser

6. 01.52 SOUNDBITE: (English) Tokyo Sexwale, chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine

"I also know how football could assist in facilitating the small way progress. And we hope at the end of the mission of this committee there will be some progress."

7. 02.19 Wide of presser

8. 02.23 SOUNDBITE: (English) Tokyo Sexwale, chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine

"What we see here is pain, pain. It's pain which people should not go through."

9. 02.32 M/s journalists during the presser

10. 02.36 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ibrahim Abu Saleem, deputy chairman of the Palestinian Football Association

"We raise the red card before the Israeli actions against the Palestinian sport in general and its siege on Palestinian sport."

11. 02.45 Close of journalists

12. 02.50 SOUNDBITE: (English) Tokyo Sexwale, chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine

"We are for football, but we know that also there is a security situation here, there is a military situation, there is a low intensity war, especially in Gaza, there is conflict and some of the problems cannot be solved by the Israeli Football Association or the Palestinian Football Association. Most of the problems are also very political."

13. 03.29 Various of Sexwale leaving the Palestinian Football Association building

Gaza Strip, Gaza City - 1st July, 2016

14. 03.59 Sexwale arriving at meeting with Palestinians factions

15. 04.06 Various of meeting

16. 04.24 Sexwale leaving the meeting

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 04:44

STORYLINE:

The chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine, South African Tokyo Sexwale, visited Gaza on Friday (1st July).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine, South Africa's Tokyo Sexwale, visited Gaza on Friday on a the second day of a two-day visit to Israel and Palestine.

Sexwale visited the Gaza headquarters of the Palestinian Football Association, which was damaged during the 2014 war between Israel and the militant Hamas group, and met representatives of Palestinian factions.

The FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine was established in 2015 to ease Israeli restrictions on Palestinian teams and players after the Palestinians withdrew a bid to suspend the Israeli Football Association.

Ibraheem Abu Saleem, deputy chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, was presented with a red card from Sexwale's Global Watch foundation, which fights racism in sport.

On receiving the card, Abu Saleem held the card in front of media and said "we raise the red card before the Israeli actions against Palestinian sport in general and its siege on Palestinian sport."

Sexwale has said his trip to Israel and Palestine paves the way for an upcoming visit by FIFA President Gianni Infantino but he did not say when that visit would take place.

STORYLINE:

The Palestine Football Association on Saturday (25th August) lashed out at FIFA for banning the association's president, Jibril Rajoub, from games for a year for inciting hatred and violence toward Argentine icon Lionel Messi.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The head of Palestinian soccer said on Saturday he will appeal FIFA's year-long ban on him for inciting against Argentine superstar Lionel Messi as part of his campaign to stop Argentina's national team from playing in Israel.

Jibril Rajoub told The Associated Press he was consulting with his lawyers and will "use every possible opportunity" to fight the decision. He spoke by phone from China and said he planned a press conference upon his return to Ramallah later this week.

Rajoub's Palestine Football Association has lashed out at the decision by international soccer's ruling body as "absurd and lacking in evidence."

FIFA said Jibril Rajoub "incited hatred and violence" by calling on soccer fans "to target the Argentinian Football Association and burn jerseys and pictures of Lionel Messi."

Argentina eventually abandoned the trip to Jerusalem for a game against Israel in June.

Argentina Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie said at the time players felt "totally attacked, violated" after images emerged of the team's white and sky-blue striped jerseys stained with red paint resembling blood.

FIFA imposed the minimum ban allowed in its disciplinary code for inciting hatred or violence.

It prevents Rajoub from attending matches or engaging with the media at or near stadiums on match days for a year.

Rajoub, who is also head of the Palestinian Olympic Committee, was fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($20,300 USD).

The punishment marks an embarrassing blow for Rajoub, who has long lobbied FIFA to sanction Israel for what he called its restriction of movement of Palestinian players.

Israel has rejected the Palestinian campaign as an attempt to politicize sports and has cited security concerns as the reason behind the occasional restrictions placed on Palestinian players, particularly in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

Rajoub's organisation accused FIFA of bowing to pressure of "interest groups" and Jewish West Bank settlers who sought to punish Rajoub for his comments.

Ramallah, West Bank. 25th August, 2018

1. 00:00 Various, Ramallah street shots

2. 00:25 SOUNDBITE (English): Mohammed Ajabi, Ramallah resident:

"It's wrong, definitely wrong and I think there were unfair dealing with him in such ways, yes. If he has something to say, something that goes against his country, like stopping the Argentinian team from coming to play against the Israelis, it's his right to say so and it's his right to stand and protest, if that's his way of protesting, that's his way. He didn't do it violently, there was no violence, it was all peaceful, there were words, there was no physical thing where he was violent or he burned, or he would fight any Israelis, he just spoke what was on his mind and the Argentinian team listened, they didn't come and they didn't play so why should he be punished for doing something that he thinks is right, it's his freedom, it's his will, when it comes to freedom of speech you know everyone should be able to say what he wants, nothing more."

3. 01:17 More street shots

4. 01:37 Exterior of Palestine Football Association

5. 01:42 Sign on building reading Palestine Football Association

6. 01:47 Establishing shot of Susan Shalabi in office

7. 01:52 SOUNDBITE (English): Susan Shalabi, AFC Executive Committee member:

"We think it's absurd and in-proportionate because you know giving the maximum punishment over an infringement that was only based on media reports by a party that was not neutral, we think this was biased. But than in the end we will respect, as always, we respect the FIFA statutes, we respect the FIFA institutions but we also retain our rights to follow this issue in all the legal venues that are available to us."

8. 02:24 Various of Susan Shalabi working

9. 02:39 SOUNDBITE (English): Susan Shalabi, AFC Executive Committee member:

"Certainly there are political dimensions to this decision. First it was launched by the Israeli football association who everybody knows is in dispute before FIFA with the Palestine Football association and also a settler group was also involved, which is the Palestine media watch which everybody knows is a settler group which is biased in its reports and the evidence that was used by the disciplinary committee to evaluate the situation was only the evidence presented by these two, who had interest in the conviction of General Rajoub."

10. 03:17 Susan Shalabi sitting at her desk

11. 03:22 Sign reading Palestine Football Association

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 03:27

The head of the Palestinian Football Association told SNTV on Monday (8th May) that he wants Israel to "stop violating status of FIFA" - and withdraw from playing football on the highly-contentious West Bank territory.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine was once again on the agenda at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress.

This was the fifth consecutive year that Palestine had raised the issue with the AFC.

The conflict centres around Israeli clubs playing matches in the West Bank - a disputed territory that has long caused conflict between the two sides.

The president of the Palestine Football Association - Jibril Rajoub - told SNTV on Monday (8th May) that FIFA needs to intervene immediately.

"If they want to continue behaving like the bully of the neighbourhood, they should face sanctions according to the status of FIFA," Rajoub said.

Ragout claims that Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has personally telephoned FIFA President Gianni Infantino to urge potential sanctions against Israel to be delayed.

Despite these suggestions, President Rajoub is confident over a forthcoming resolution.

"We are optimistic (as) there is almost a consensus in the AFC that they are supporting us and I hope that the other five confederations also will support us," Rajoub added.

Four Seasons Hotel, Manama, Bahrain. 8th May, 2017

1. 00:00 Mid of Asian Football Confederation Congress (AFC) sign.

2. 00:09 Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub talking to AFC attendees.

3. 00:16 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, Palestine Football Association president:

"The Israeli Palestinian issue is on both the AFC and FIFA agendas. We demand our right in promoting football according to the rules and regulations of FIFA and its confederations across the globe. We want to stop all that is at odds with those rules and regulations, whether it be the limitations that the occupation brings or preventing the Israeli Football Association (IFA) from holding activities in the occupied territories. This is in accordance of UN resolutions. FIFA's committee headed by Tokyo Sexwale has a report and recommendation from us. One of those recommendations is stopping the breaches (done by the IFA). Or resorting to FIFA regulations. The head of the AFC said that it is time to end the suffering of the Palestine Football Association, and the removal of all the limitations holding Palestinian back from taking part in the game. There is a consensus on this matter in the AFC. We're waiting to discuss this topic with FIFA the day after tomorrow. This time we will not accept half attempts at resolving this issue."

4. 01:52 Mid of Rajoub talking to AFC attendees.

5. 02:03 SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, Palestine Football Association president:

"The Palestinian-Israeli issue has already been raised for the last five years. This is the fifth Congress that we are raising the issue and we are asking to end the suffering of the Palestinian footballers and also asking to stop official sport activities in the occupied territories. We already have this committee and there will be recommendations and this committee checked with the U.N. (United Nations) and they received an official statement that East Jerusalem, Gaza and West Bank are occupied territories and the Israeli's have no right to practice any official sport activities which is also a violation of the statutory of FIFA, a violation of human rights, and we believe and we hope that this time will be the last chance for the Israelis. If they want to continue behaving like the bully of the neighbourhood, they should face sanctions according to the status of FIFA. If the Israelis want to come and they bite, and they recharge their mental batteries, stop violating status of FIFA, UN security council resolutions and so on it's up to them. But, we are optimistic (as) there is almost a consensus in the AFC that they are supporting us and I hope that the other five confederations also will support us. We are asking for our fundamental right to practice, to play football under the umbrella of FIFA according to the status of FIFA."

6. 04:14 Mid of AFC attendees.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 04:22.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter hopes to reach a solution to the problem of Israeli security restrictions affecting Palestinian football after holding talks with both parties on Tuesday (September 3rd).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Sepp Blatter said on Tuesday that he hopes to have reached a solution over the issue of Israeli security restrictions affecting Palestinian football by the end of the year.

The FIFA President held talks with both parties at the governing body's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland and was optimistic that an agreement could be reached.

The main issue is restricted movement into and out of the West Bank and Gaza for players and officials from Palestinian and visiting teams.

FIFA recognises Palestine as a national team, but Israel's denial of travel visas to players and officials forced the side to forfeit its place in qualification for the 2010 World Cup.

The issue flared up once more just last month, when teams from Iraq, Jordan and the UAE struggled to reach Palestine for a youth tournament that the country was hosting.

Blatter admitted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant that he must prioritise the security of his country, but the FIFA President still feels that they must try and reach some kind of solution.

On another note, Monday (September 2nd) saw the end of the transfer window, with Gareth Bale becoming the most expensive player in history following his transfer to Real Madrid.

Blatter made it clear that he feels FIFA has no place in interfering in the transfer market, in particular in relation to the sums of money involved.

He joked that the Welsh international will now have the opportunity to prove that he is a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Zurich, Switzerland - September 3rd, 2013.

1. 00:00 Establishing wide shot of the exterior of the FIFA building in Zurich

2. 00:05 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA President:

"The problem, the basic problem, which is in this region is a security problem of Israel and the fact that Palestine is recognised as a full member of FIFA but it is not yet recognised as a full member of the United Nations. This is the problem. But now in football we can make a step forward and this step forward, I think, will be fruitful. So we have given responsibility to the two associations to work together, but we will monitor the different steps and the idea is that at the end of the year, when we come together in the FIFA executive committee, we should have a solution of how it will be easier the movements between footballers in this region."

3. 01:06 Wide shot of the press conference

4. 01:11 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA President:

"You remember when I said I had spoken with Mr Netanyahu (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) on the morning of the eighth of July, he said, first of all I have to ensure the security of my country. But security means also that there shall be solutions that people can come in and go out because Palestine has the right to play in FIFA competitions, or Asian competitions, the under 17s, the under 20, men, women, world cup, Asian Cup, in clubs and so on and this gives a lot of movement."

5. 01:48 Close up of Blatter's hands

6. 01:54 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA President (on the subject of Gareth Bale become the worlds most expensive footballer):

"If it's the price of a player is high or not high, I think this is the market and the market, we can not intervene in this market. It's definitely the European market."

7. 02:11 Cut away of camera

8. 02:18 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA President (Q: You've likened Cristiano Ronaldo to Picasso. Who would Gareth Bale be in the art world?):

"Gareth Bale, he can prove now that he is better than Ronaldo."

9. 02:25 Blatter walking away from the media.

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SHOTLIST: West Bank - 16th December, 2015.

1. 00.00 Tokyo Sexwale, chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine received by Saeb Erekat the Palestinian chief negotiator

2. 00.07 Various of Jibril Rajoub , President of the Palestinian Football Association, Saeb Erekat the Palestinian chief negotiator and the Israel Football Association president Ofer Eini in meting

3. 00.28 Jibril Rajoub, Tokyo Sexwale, Ofer Eini in press conference

4. 00.34 SOUNDBITE: (English) Tokyo Sexwale, Chairman of the FIFA Monitoring Committee Israel:

"We know that the political security that motivated the issues affect the movement of people, and the committee was discussing ways to resolve this, so we will see the report about the problems that are afflicted the movement of people, and how they should be resolved."

5. 01.08 Cut away

6. 01.10 SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, President of the Palestinian Football Association:

"We will never tolerate any sort of compromise about our right to deliver the game, to practise the game and to be protected by this status of FIFA, which should be a term of reference for both federations including our right to develop the game within the territories recognised by the UN as a Palestinian state, and also the same right as the Israelis to practise their game within their recognised borders and territories."

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 1:50

STORYLINE:

A panel seeking to improve Israeli-Palestinian football issues met in the West Bank on Wednesday (16th December), but failed to resolve a number of issues angering the Palestinian side.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

It was the second time the FIFA monitoring Committee Israel-Palestine panel met, and yet still no agreements have been made.

The panel concluded that the issues require more time and broader discussions with authorities in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The panel is headed by South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale, who is standing in next year's FIFA presidential election.

Palestinians have long claimed that Israeli security restrictions limit movement of their players, visiting teams and football equipment, while Israeli football officials have said that political decisions are beyond their control.

Sexwale was appointed in May after Palestinians dropped a request for the FIFA Congress to vote on suspending Israel from football's governing body.

RESTRICTIONS: SNTV clients only. Scheduled news programmes only. Use within 14 days. If interested in archive use after 14 days please contact www.aparchive.com. Internet use only for SNTV clients with digital rights licensed in their contract. For any questions regarding rights restrictions please contact planning@sntv.com

SHOTLIST: Ramallah, Al-Jalazon and Al-Bireh, West Bank, May 20th, 2015.

Ramallah, West Bank, 20 May 2015:

1. 00.00 Wide of FIFA president Sepp Blatter arriving at the Palestinian Prime Minister's office at the West Bank city of Ramallah.

2. 00.15 Wide of FIFA president Sepp Blatter shaking hands with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Presidential Compound in Ramallah.

3. 00.28 Close-up and zoom out from Palestinian President Abbas to wide of Abbas-Blatter meeting.

Al-Jalazon refugee camp, north of Ramallah, West Bank, 20 May 2015:

4. 00.33 Wide of camp.

5. 00.38 M/s of camp.

6. 00.43 Various of FIFA president Sepp Blatter's visit to camp.

7. 01.26 SOUNDBITE: (English) FIFA President Sepp Blatter:

"I am very happy to be back in Palestine and today it is a special day because I am visiting a special institution here - this camp. I am amazed about the optimism that I have found here and this

optimism is not only created by the sport but this optimism is created because you believe in youth and you believe in Palestine."

8. 02.07 More of Blatter visit to Al-Jalazon refugee camp.

Al-Bireh, West Bank, 20 May 2015:

9. 02.30 Wide of FIFA president Sepp Blatter entering press conference room at the Sepp Blatter Academy in the west bank city of Al-Bireh.

10. 02.39 SOUNDBITE: (English) FIFA President Sepp Blatter:

"There is a problem therein and this is a delicate problem and this is the problem of these five teams of Israel. They play on territories which are claimed or which are territories of Palestine and which are in dispute on the other side. But this is where in FIFA this has nothing to do with the statutes of FIFA when it comes to territory but it could be for FIFA's statutes when this would mean that national association is playing on the territory of the other national association without having received permission to do so."

11. 03.28 Wide of press conference.

12. 03.33 Mid of Blatter Academy.

13. 03.39 Wide of Blatter academy.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 03:44.

STORYLINE:

FIFA president Sepp Blatter visits Ramallah in Palestine on Wednesday (20th May), after his 'mission of peace' trip to Israel.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Wednesday (20th May) he is on a 'mission of peace' to resolve tensions between the Israeli and Palestinian soccer federations in the hope of staving off a Palestinian bid to oust Israel from the world governing body.

As part of his vision of using sports as a bridge between people, on Tuesday (19th May), Blatter proposed holding a peace match in Zurich between the Israeli and Palestinian national teams.

Seated alongside Blatter, the president of the Israeli federation, Ofer Eini, immediately accepted the offer.

But the main issue bringing the FIFA president to the region appeared to remain unresolved.

Palestinians say Israeli security restrictions are limiting movement of Palestinian players, visiting teams and soccer equipment and have put forward a proposal to suspend Israel from world soccer at the 209-nation FIFA meeting on 29th May.

Blatter met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday and paid a visit to the Al-Jalazon refugee camp.

Blatter said he hoped to reach a quick solution to the crisis and perhaps even spark further cooperation between the sides.

Israel has cited security concerns as the reason behind the occasional restrictions placed on Palestinian players, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Rotem Kemer, the Israeli federation's chief executive, said Israel has approved more than 95 per cent of the Palestinian requests this year for players to move between Gaza and the West Bank and to travel abroad.

The Palestinian FA president Fibril Rajoub said he would back whichever FIFA presidential candidate supported his campaign to have Israel suspended from the football's world governing body.

He also gave his reaction to the arrests of FIFA members in Zurich on Wednesday (27th May).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Rajoub has proposed a controversial motion to have Israel suspended, one that is scheduled to be debated on either Thursday or Friday when FIFA's congress meets in Zurich.

In order to pass, the motion would require the support of three-quarters of its 209 member federations.

Rajoub has a number of key concerns.

He argues that Israel violates FIFA bylaws by preventing freedom of movement for Palestinian soccer players. Furthermore, Rajoub claims there are five FIFA-registered teams in settlements located in the occupied West Bank.

And he maintains that Israel has done nothing to crack down on anti-Arab racist chants sometimes produced by fans at games in Israel.

The Israel Football Association rejects the charges.

This is the third time that Rajoub had put forward a motion to eject Israel from FIFA.

Previously he was persuaded to back down by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Palestinians will now be hoping that the United States and Switzerland's investigations into corruption in FIFA won't obscure their call to expel Israel from the body.

Zurich, Switzerland. 27th May 2015.

1. 00:00 Jibril Rajoub walks past camera

2. 00:14 Close up of CAF sign

3. 00:18 CAF delegates leaving before Israel FA representative speaks

4. 00:31 SOUNDBITE (English): Jibril Rajoub, Palestinian FA president

"It's to recognise the very existence of the Palestinian FA, our right to develop the game according to the statutes of FIFA because we don't trust their government. We are in need of a controlled mechanism, monitoring what's going on on the ground and I think it's time for the Israeli Federation to remove, to ban the six clubs in the occupied territories playing in the Israeli league. If they don't want to conclude the right conclusions I have no other choice - I have to go for sanctions from FIFA. The Israeli Federation should keep distance grin their racist, crazy, government."

5. 01:25 Wide shot of delegates outside CAF Meeting while Israeli FA speaks

6. 01:32 SOUNDBITE (Arabic): Jibril Rajoub, Palestinian FA president.

Q: (What are you trying to achieve this week?)

"I am seeking an end to the suffering of the Palestinian players. I am hoping for a monitoring mechanism based on the Olympic Statues and FFIA bylaws so as to protect the Palestinian sport players. I am looking for a clear cut decision about the right of the Palestinian FA in developing the games and its promotion in the Palestinian lands and this means banning the Israeli clubs which now exist in the settlements and the occupied Palestinian territories. Under international law this is regarded as war crimes."

7. 02:15 Israel FA spokesperson at CAF

8. 02:21 Mid shot of empty seats

9. 02:27 SOUNDBITE (English): Jibril Rajoub, Palestinian FA president

(Q: With the FIFA presidential campaign coming up, is change needed in light of the arrests made this morning?) "Listen I will support, we have two candidates, I will support he who during the next 24 hours will raise the red card to racism, humiliation and discrimination against the Palestinian footballers. He who will say that he is against the suffering of Palestinian and he is looking for a solution according to statutes of FIFA, he will win my vote and he will touch the hearts of most of the members of this FIFA Congress."

10. 03:06 Close up of Israel FA representative

11. 03:11 Close up of empty chairs

12. 03:20 SOUNDBITE (Arabic): Jibril Rajoub, Palestinian FA president

(Q: What was your reaction to the arrests made on Wednesday morning?):"What worries me and give me sleepless nights is the suffering of the Palestinian sport people. I hope these arrests will lead to the reform of FIFA, but the priority for me is putting an end to the suffering of the Palestinian player."

13. 03:44 Wide shot of CAF meeting with empty chairs among remaining delegates

14. 03:50 SOUNDBITE (English): Shlomi Barzel, Isreali FA head of communications

"This is a pure attempt to combine or to mix politics with sports. He is talking about settlements, the whole speech (to CAF) was full of lies, I don't have anything other to say and I am sorry that I am not polite enough on this matter because he makes irrational arguments, that's what Rajoub has just made. This is a person who has said on record that if he had nuclear weapons he would have bombed Israel. This a person that stands on the top of the pyramid of the PFA. This is unbelievable and he is talking about occupation and he stalking about Israel. According to the occupation, all the five teams which he mentioned are playing at Israel territory according to UN decisions, according to the agreement between the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, settlements which we know in Oslo, as part of the Oslo process and an agreement by two states - the Palestinian authority and the government of Israel."

15. 04:56 Wide of Israel FA representative speaking to CAF

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 05:04

SHOTLIST:

Ramallah, West Bank, Gaza. July 7, 2013.

1. 00:00 Various Palestine Football Association's building

2. 00:14 Mid shot of FIFA President Sepp Blatter during photo-opportunity with Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan (to Blatter's right) and Palestine Football Association's President, Jibril Rajoub (to Blatter's left)

3. 00:21 Wide of news conference

4. 00:23 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA President

"I am a citizen of the world, but my heart now beats for Palestine."

5. 00:32 Close up of FIFA and Palestinian flag

6. 00:37 Wide of FIFA President Sepp Blatter exiting Palestine Football Association's building and greeting Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan

7. 00:45 Mid shot of Arab Idol winner, Mohammed Assaf, climbing stairs and being greeted by fans

8. 00:50 Wide of FIFA President Sepp Blatter at photo-opportunity with Palestine Football Association's President, Jibril Rajoub, and Arab Idol winner, Mohammed Assaf

STORYLINE: FIFA president Sepp Blatter continues tour of Palestine on Sunday (July 7).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

FIFA President Sepp Blatter said that his heart "beats for Palestine" while speaking at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday.

Blatter was on a tour of the West Bank and promised to help the Palestinian national football team.

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan and Palestine Football Association's President, Jibril Rajoub, joined Blatter at the press conference, along with the winner of the "Arab Idol" reality show, Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf.

Members of the Palestinian squad are split between the West Bank and Gaza and are often unable to move from one territory to the other due to Israeli security restrictions.

At the FIFA Congress held in Mauritius in May, football's governing body called on Blatter to try to improve the situation of football in Palestine.

On Sunday, Blatter urged Israel to remove the travel restrictions and give greater respect to Palestinian athletes, saying that the current situation violates FIFA's charter.

"I'm on a mission...to transmit to the political authorities in Israel the problems that you are facing here," Blatter told an audience at Al-Najah University in the West Bank city of Nablus.

The crowd included Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who praised Blatter for his contributions to global and Palestinian sports.

Blatter also received an honorary Ph.D. in administration from the university.

Blatter said that he would invite Assaf to sing at the World Cup in Brazil next year.

Blatter began his visit in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, where he inaugurated a new football pitch sponsored by FIFA.

SHOTLIST:

Tulkarem, northern West Bank - 7th July 2013

1. 00:00 Wide shot of helicopter carrying FIFA President Sepp Blatter landing

2. 00:08 Mid of Blatter welcomed by Palestinian officials

3. 00:14 Wide shot of band playing music welcoming Blatter

4. 00:19 Mid of Blatter cutting ribbon

5. 00:27 Close up of sign

6. 00:31 Wide shot of Blatter with Palestinian youth soccer players pausing for picture

7. 00:36 Wide shot of Palestinian youth players practising

8. 00:41 Mid of youths practising

9. 00:46 Mid of Blatter shaking hands with Palestinian officials

10. 00;52 Blatter standing during Palestinian anthem

11. 00:57 SOUNDBITE (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA President:

"Football shall give hope, hope for you, hope especially for this country, for this city, for this population, for Palestine, lot of hope for Palestine."

12. 01:10 Mid of children in traditional costumes holding flowers

13. 01:13 SOUNDBITE (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA President:

"I am an optimist, and I'm looking forward to a very proud and bright future of your country, of the Palestinian population, and especially we can help through football and through sports."

13. 01:31 Wide shot of crowd clapping

14. 01:36 Mid of Blatter holding flowers with children dressed in traditional costume

Nablus, northern West Bank - 7th July 2013

15. 01:41 Crowd applauding as Blatter enters hall

16. 01:49 Mid of Blatter seated with Palestinian prime minister Rami Al-Hamdallah

17. 01:54 Various of Blatter getting an honorary PHD

18. 02:00 SOUNDBITE (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA President:

"I'm in a mission, I'm in a sports diplomatic mission to transmit to the political authorities in Israel the problems that you are facing here with the football, with the controls they are making in your football organisations."

19. 02:21 Mid of Blatter handing FIFA flags to Palestinian officials

20. 02:32 End shot of Blatter leaving

STORYLINE:

During his tour of the West Bank on Sunday (7th July), FIFA President Sepp Blatter promised to help the Palestinian national team.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Members of Palestine's football squad are split between the West Bank and Gaza, often unable to move from one territory to the other due to Israeli security restrictions.

At the FIFA Congress held in Mauritius in May, football's governing body called on President Sepp Blatter to "try to improve the situation of football in Palestine".

On Sunday, Blatter urged Israel to remove the travel restrictions and give greater respect to Palestinian athletes, saying that the current situation violates FIFA's charter.

"I'm on a mission... to transmit to the political authorities in Israel the problems that you are facing here," Blatter told an audience at Al-Najah University in the West Bank city of Nablus.

The crowd included Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, who praised Blatter for his contributions to global and Palestinian sports.

Blatter received an honorary Ph.D. in administration from the university.

"I'm a global citizen but my heart beats for Palestine," said Blatter, adding he would invite Mohammed Assaf, the Palestinian singer who won the "Arab Idol" reality show, to sing at the World Cup in Brazil next year.

Blatter began his latest visit in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem, where he inaugurated a new $500,000 football pitch sponsored by FIFA. He was greeted by folk dancing and flowers carried by young girls in traditional Palestinian costumes.

While Blatter sounded positive notes, telling the crowd that soccer "shall give hope, hope for you, hope for Palestine," the president of the Palestine Football Association was more critical.

"(Blatter) is here to dissolve the Israeli occupation's siege on Palestinian sport," Jibril Rajoub said. Later, during a speech at An-Najah University, he claimed "there should be no place (in FIFA and the Olympics) for those who continue their racist policy."

Rajoub said Blatter will meet Israeli officials this week and convey the FIFA Congress' call for Israel to ease restrictions on Palestinian players. The Israeli Football Association said it wouldn't comment until it had met Blatter.

Blatter is scheduled to visit several more FIFA-sponsored projects in the West Bank later on Sunday.

SHOTLIST

Ram - 26 October, 2008

1. Wide exterior of Faisal Husseini International Stadium

2. Mid of men sweeping

3. Mid of excavator at stadium

4. Various of man painting stadium wall

5. Pan of stadium

6. Palestinian flag (middle) and flags depicting Jordan King Abdullah bin al-Hussein and late Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

7. Close up of flag depicting Jordan King Abdullah bin al-Hussein

8. Various of men placing advertisement banner in stadium

9. Various of pitch and seating stands in stadium

10. Mid of Palestinian flags at stadium

Ram - 20 October, 2008

11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmed Alan, Palestinian team player:

"It's a very good feeling to play this match on our home land and between our people and it means a lot that this match will be in Jerusalem."

12. Wide pan of stadium

Ramallah - 24 October, 2008

++NIGHT SHOTS++

13. Various of Jordanian team arriving in Ramallah

14. Jordanian football team being welcomed by music performers

15. Jordanian football team watching music performance

16. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mahmoud Khalifa, Jordan team manager:

"We are very happy to be here in Palestine, it's a pleasure for the Jordanian national team to play this match with our brothers, the Palestinian national team. The match will be a friendly match. This is one of the most important games for us. We have suffered in the last two days to come here but in the end we arrived. We hope this match will show the high level of both football teams."

17. Mid of Mahmoud Khalifa sitting down talking

18. Mid of music performance

STORYLINE

The Palestinian national football team has been preparing to play its first international match on home soil, at the Faisal Husseini International Stadium in the West Bank town of Ram, just outside Jerusalem.

Palestine will host Jordan in an exhibition match at the stadium, after ten years of playing "home" games in Jordan and Qatar.

The stadium has now been upgraded to meet the standards set by football's governing body, FIFA (the International Federation of Football Association).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter will attend Sunday's match against Jordan in the 6-thousand seat stadium, which has been renovated at a cost of 4 million US dollars.

Blatter is attending the game as part of a four-day visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Palestine is rated 180th of 207 nations in the FIFA rankings, peaking at Number 115 in April 2006, while Jordan is ranked 112.

Travel for away games has been complicated for the Palestinian team, who failed to arrive for a recent World Cup qualifier in Singapore because of travel restrictions imposed by Israel.

Eighteen players and officials living in the Gaza Strip were denied travel permits.

This time too, several team members were still stuck in Gaza and are waiting for Israeli permits to come to the West Bank.

Israel has declared Gaza "hostile territory" and allows only humanitarian hardship cases to leave.

Hosting an international match is a point of pride for many Palestinians, as Palestine's decade-old team has previously been obliged to stage games it should have held at home in Jordan and Qatar instead.

Sport is the only field in which a Palestinian state is officially recognised, and so holds an important place in the hearts of Palestinians, whether resident in the Palestinian territories or members of the Palestinian diaspora, from which several players are drawn, from as far afield as Chile.

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, called it "a very important moment for the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian football family."

The Palestinian team also boasts players from the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza.

Players from the Gaza Strip were having difficulties getting to the West Bank - six of the team's 26 members, including its captain Saeb Jundiyeh, were still in Gaza, awaiting word from Israel on whether they would be permitted to travel to the West Bank.

Israeli officials had no immediate comment on the travel request.

Gaza has been virtually cut off from the world since the Islamic militant Hamas seized control of the territory in June 2007.

Hamas and the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who runs the West Bank, are bitter rivals. Gaza and the West Bank lie on opposite sides of Israel.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter met with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas on Monday (26th May), as part of his regional tour to Jordan, Palestine and Israel.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

FIFA president Sepp Blatter described himself as "a self-declared ambassador of the Palentinian people" after meeting Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Monday (26th May).

President Abbas had earlier criticised Israeli interference in the affairs of the Palestinian Football Association and called for action.

"We consider ourselves as an active FIFA member, the Israeli government continues placing obstacles for our activities and to be honest with you these Israeli obstacles violate international law and the FIFA legislations. And the Israeli (football) Federation if it continues obeying the Israeli government orders and practices, it must be held accountable" Abbas said.

On Tuesday (27th May) Sepp Blatter will have a meeting with the Israel Football Association (IFA) and Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu, and the FIFA President expects those meetings to be trickier, but he's determined to improve relations between the two countries through football.

"It's easy to deal with you Mr Abbas and your government and your sports authorities Mr Rajoub (General Jibril Rajoub), it's really easy to deal. It will not be so easy to deal on the other side, but I am an optimist and being an optimist we shall try and we shall find a solution, a solution that sport is not politics, but sport, in this case football, can help to solve a problem. And if we are able to solve this problem it could be also a good, let's say, step to solve other problems that you have in this region."

Ramallah, Palestine - 26th May 2014.

1. 00:00 Mid shot of FIFA Vice President Prince Ali Bin Hussein and FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

2. 00;07 Mid shot of delegates.

3. 00:11 Wide shot of FIFA Vice President Prince Ali Bin Hussein, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

4. 00:19 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian president:

"Nonetheless, we consider ourselves as an active FIFA member, the Israeli government continues placing obstacles for our activities and to be honest with you these Israeli obstacles violate international law and the FIFA legislations. And the Israeli (football) Federation if it continues obeying the Israeli government orders and practices, it must be held accountable."

5. 01:16 Wide shot of press conference.

6. 01:22 Close up of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas listening to Sepp Blatter.

7. 01:29 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA president.

"I am happy to be with you in this moment with the vice-president of FIFA for Asia Prince Ali Bin Hussein and the other delegates here present in order to try, not only to try, but I think to enable us to solve a problem, an ongoing problem, which is between your nation, your people, your country, together with your neighbours Israel."

8. 02:11 Cutaway of delegates.

9. 02:16 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA president:

"President Abbas be ensured that I am not only a friend of Palestine, I am, as you have written to me once, I am a self-declared ambassador of the Palentinian people."

10. 02:38 Cutaway of delegates.

11. 02:42 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA president:

"It's easy to deal with you Mr Abbas and your government and your sports authorities Mr Rajoub (General Jibril Rajoub), it's really easy to deal. It will not be so easy to deal on the other side, but I am an optimist and being an optimist we shall try and we shall find a solution, a solution that sport is not politics, but sport, in this case football, can help to solve a problem. And if we are able to solve this problem it could be also a good, let's say, step to solve other problems that you have in this region."

12. 03:31 End of press conference, Sepp Blatter and Mahmoud Abbas embrace and Blatter gives a pennant to Abbas.

STORYLINE

UEFA President Michel Platini visited Ramallah in the West Bank on Wednesday (7th October 2009) and pledged his support to help football develop in the Palestinian territories.

The Frenchman visited Yasser Arafat's grave and met with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad during his visit in a trip aimed at promoting football as a way of bringing peace to the region.

SUGGESTED VOICEOVER:

UEFA President Michel Platini visited the Palestinian national side on Wednesday as the Frenchman toured Ramallah in the West Bank in a trip aimed at promoting football as a way of bringing peace to the region.

The Palestinian team are one of the newest members of the FIFA family, and played their first home match as recently as 2008 against Jordan.

The side play in a recently renovated stadium, and the match against Jordan drew over 7000 spectators.

The team is seen as a symbol of hope in the region, and Platini was there to show his support for the team.

He then visited the grave of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to pay his respects, before heading to a meeting with Palestinian officials and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

Platini received a medal from the committee of religions in honour of his help in developing football in the region, and the former world player of the year explained he saw football as a means to bring about peace.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"I used this opportunity to be in Jerusalem to come see my friend in Palestine and to go to Jordan this afternoon to see Prince Ali and to speak about friendship, about football, and the development of football and what we can do in the football, not always in money or in infrastructure but in values, and what we can do for peace, what we can do for the youth and what we can do for the young football players that are here in Palestine and they would like to play football."

SUPER CAPTION: Michel Platini, UEFA President

Platini has been touring the region in recent days. On Tuesday he was in neighbouring Israel and met with Israeli president Shimon Peres and he is scheduled to meet Jordanian leader

Prince Ali bin al Hussein later on Wednesday.

SHOTLIST:

Ramallah, West Bank, 7 October 2009

1. 00.00 Medium shot Platini shaking hands with Palestinian national football team

2. 00.09 Pan Left showing Platini meeting Palestinian national football team staff

3. 00.13 Pan left showing Platini kicking ball Palestinian national football team

4. 00.22 Zoom out showing Platini with Palestinian national football team

5. 00.30 Exterior of Arafat's grave

6. 00.33 Tilt up Platini visiting Arafat's grave

7. 00.49 Tilt down showing exterior Prime Minister office in Ramallah

8. 00.56 Various of Michel Platini meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and receiving medal

9. 01.15 SOUNDBITE: (English) Michel Platini, UEFA President

10. 01.55 Exterior Prime Minister office in Ramallah

SOURCE: SNTV

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Zurich on Thursday and called for the expulsion of Israel from FIFA, the international football governing body.

Protesters gathered outside the venue for FIFA's Opening Ceremony ahead of the 65th Congress.

The crowd waved pro-Palestine banners and flags and chanted "We want justice! We want freedom!" and "Free, free Palestine!", as FIFA delegates arrived for the event.

The president of Palestine's football federation, Jibril Rajoub, supported calls for Israel's expulsion, saying that Palestinian athletics "suffer" under the current system.

Zurich, Switzerland - 28 May, 2015

1. Tilt from FIFA Congress sign to protest

2. Pan of protest, UPSOUND (English) : "We want justice! We want freedom!"

3. Mid of protesters, UPSOUND (English) : "Free, free Palestine!"

4. Banner reading (English) "Free Palestine"

5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmed, Pro-Palestine protester:

++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

"We gathered here today to call for the expulsion of Israel from FIFA, because of Israel's zionist and racist policies towards the Palestinian people."

6. Protesters holding banners and flags

7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ahmed, pro-Palestine protester:

++AUDIO AS INCOMING++

"We want freedom for Palestine. We want the Israeli army out. We want them to stop building settlements in Palestine, and we want them to get rid of the racist separation wall in Jerusalem, and we want all the Palestinian refugees to be able to return to Palestine."

8. Protesters chanting

9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jibril Rajoub, Palestine Football Federation President:

"This protest shows that the world is fed up with the naughty Israeli attitude against the international laws, the FIFA laws, and the human rights law. I hope that FIFA will realise how Palestinian athletics suffer, and I hope they will help them to achieve their rights to play this game, develop it, and promote it."

10. Protesters holding banners and flags

The second part of the SNTV MENA end of year review for 2015.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Al-Ahly thrashed Gouna 13- 0 in the Egypt Cup round of 16 on the 13th of August.

The 13-0 record victory was the highest registered in an official game in Egyptian football since the 11-0 league win for Masry against Beni Suef in 1962/1963 season and Olympic's 11-0 win against El-Tag El Malaki in the King Cup in 1929.

The West Bank based Ahli al-Khalil were crowned 2015 Palestine Cup champions following their 2-1 win against Gaza's Ittihad al-Shejaiya in a historic match in Hebron on Friday, 14th August.

Al-Ahly will now represent Palestine in Asian competitions.

Usain Bolt won the men's 200 metres final at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China on the 27th of August - while Moroccan Rababe Arafi narrowly won the first heat with a new personal best in the 800 metres of one minute, 58.55 seconds.

A great finish from Elijah Motonei Manangoi of Kenya saw him come from far behind the leading pack on the final straight to take silver, denying Morocco's Abdalaati Iguider who fell over as he crossed the line to claim the bronze in the 1500-metres.

Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan is in the running for the role of FIFA president and said on 9th September that he will fight to make soccer's scandal-scarred governing body more transparent.

The prince ran in the previous FIFA election in May, denying long-time incumbent Sepp Blatter a majority in the first round of voting.

He stepped aside before the second round.

The FIFA election will be held in February 2016.

Japan beat Syria 3-0 on October 8th in Seeb, Oman in an AFC World Cup qualifier.

Later in October, Syria defeated Afghanistan 5-2, before beating Singapore 2-1 on the 17th of November.

They are currently second in their group with 15 points, one points behind leaders Japan.

Al Ahly won Egypt's Super Cup for the ninth time on October 15th - beating rivals Zamalek 3-2 at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

However, Zamalek were crowned African handball champions in late October, beating Tunisia's Club Africain 35-22 in the 2015 African Champions League final in Nador, Morocco.

On the 8th of November, TP Mazembe of DR Congo won the CAF Champions League final with a win over USM Alger.

Alger made the final after defeating Al-Hilal Omdurman of Sudan 2-1 on aggregate.

TP Mazembe joined them after defeating Al-Merreikh of Sudan 4-2 over two legs.

Title holders Es Setif of Algeria didn't make it to the finals this year and were knocked out of the group stage - after having only secured five points from six games.

For the first time, two other Algerian teams played in the group stages - USM Alger and MC El Eulma.

Palestine drew 0-0 against both UAE on the 8th of September and Saudi Arabia on the 9th of November in 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The game against Saudi was moved from the original venue in Al-Ram because access required entry through an Israeli border post - and Saudi Arabia does not recognise Israel.

Saudi Arabia refused to play in Palestine - and the match was postponed a few times before being finally played in Jordan.

The teams played in Jeddah in June in the first of their two scheduled Asia Zone World Cup qualifiers, with the Saudis winning 3-2.

Palestine are now third in Group A with nine points, Saudi are top of the group with 16 points, three points ahead of second-placed UAE.

Algeria defeated visitors Tanzania 7-0 in a World Cup CAF qualifier on 17th November, to the relief of under-pressure manager Christian Gourcuff.

They qualified for the third round with Tunisia, who defeated Mauritania 4-2 on aggregate.

Libya, Egypt and Morocco also made it to the third round, but Sudan failed to qualify.

Elsewhere, the Oman FA sacked national team manager Paul Le Guen after an embarrassing 2-1 defeat against Turkmenistan in the AFC and World Cup qualifiers on November 19th.

in the CAF Confederation Cup, Etoile du Sahel won the final 2-1 on aggregate against South Africa's Orlando Pirates and were crowned champions in the for a second time, having also clinched the title in 2006.

Finally, Ahmed Khalil was named the 2015 AFC Player of the Year, with the UAE and Al-Ahli striker becoming only the third person to have received the senior and youth individual accolades - after winning the youngster's award in 2008.

SNTV

Petro Sport Stadium, Cairo, Egypt. 13th August, 2015.

1. 00:00 SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fathi Mabrook, Al-Ahly head coach:

"I deal very well with my players. Thanks to God that all players are satisfied with the way I deal with them. I give every player their dues and I believe that all players should be kept fit, whether they are domestic (Egyptians) or Africans."

SNTV

Hebron, West Bank. 14th August, 2015.

2. 00:15 Players and fans celebrate after winning Palestine Cup.

SNTV

Bird's Nest Stadium, Beijing, China. 27th August, 2015.

3. 00:27 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Rababe Arafi, Morocco, 800 metres (1:58:55, PB, qualified for the final):

"The race was great. I am happy with my achievement. I'm specialised in running in the 1500 metres."

4. 00:35 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Abdalaati Iguider, 1500 metres bronze medal:

"The race was good. I was planning to win it. I hoped for gold and not for second or third."

SNTV

Jordan. 9th September, 2015.

5. 00:48 Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan starts his campaign for FIFA president.

6. 00:53 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein, President of the Jordanian Football Association:

"We've decided to take part in the struggle for the presidency another time, to preside over FIFA."

7. 01:01 A Jordanian shows his football skills.

SNTV

Seeb, Oman. 8th October, 2015.

8. 01:06 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Abdelrazaq Alhussain, Syria player:

"Today (Thursday) our team played an excellent first half. We were stuck playing and relying on counter-attacks. We have had two chances and did not take them. In football if you do not take advantage of the opportunities - you will concede."

9. 01:18 Syria's national team in bus.

SNTV

Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE. 15th October, 2015.

10. 01:22 Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE

11. 01:25 Al-Ahly fans chanting as their team plays in Egypt's Super Cup

12. 01:39 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Abdulaziz Al Shafi, Al Ahly coach:

"Al-Ahly have won many tournaments before, but today's match is key for next season. We played against Zamalek."

SNTV

Nador, Morocco. 30th October, 2015.

13. 01:47 Egypt's Zamalek play in The African Handball Championship.

14. 01:53 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Yassine Mohamed, Zamalek:

"Games between North African team are like derbies and it is difficult to predict the outcome. The team which is more focused and read the situation well usually wins. Thanks be to God we won today and hard luck for African."

15. 01:58 Zamalek players celebrate after winning The African Handball Championship.

SNTV

Algeria. 8th November, 2015.

16. 02:04 USM Alger players train in preparation for the CAF Champions League final against TP Mazembe of DR Congo.

17. 02:18 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic): Kheireddine Madoui, ES Setif coach:

"There are three Algerian teams competing in the group of eight stage (of CAF Champions League). This is a precedent - it's the first time that three teams from the same country play at the group stage. It means that we will play most of our matches here. We have five matches to play in Algeria."

SNTV

Sudan. 8th November, 2015.

18. 02:26 TP Mazembe of DR Congo train for CAF Champions League final with USM Alger.

SNTV

Lubumbashi, DR Congo. 8th November, 2015

19. 02:32 TP Mazembe of DR Congo fans celebrate win over USM Alger in the CAF Champions League final.

SNTV

Rashed Stadium, Dubai. November, 2015.

20. 02:37 Rashed Stadium entrance

21. 02:42 Various of Saudi national team training.

SNTV

West Bank, Palestine. November, 2015.

22. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Osama Hawsawi, Captain of Saudi Arabia:

"This is a very important match for us. Winning it will confirm our lead and put us five points ahead (of the nearest rival in the group). It is not going to be an easy match. The Palestinian team improved tremendously in the last few years. We have great respect for this team, but we as players have one aim which is to win the three points."

SNTV

Jordan. November 2015

23. 03:22 Various of Saudi national team training.

SNTV

Bilda, Algeria. 17th November, 2015.

24. 03:25 SOUNDBITE: (French) Christian Gourcuff, Algeria manager press conference.

+this quote is for the benefit of our French language clients+.

SNTV

Tunis, Tunisia, November, 2015.

25. 03:34 Tunisian national team training session.

26. 03:47 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ali Maaloul, Tunisia:

"Sure, it was an important win but it's not going to make our task easier."

27. 03:51 Various of Tunisian national team training session.

SNTV

Rades, Tunisia. November, 2015.

28. 03:54 Various of Libyan national team training.

SNTV

Oman. 19th November, 2015.

29. Omani cameraman filming conference wearing traditional headdress.

30 . 04:13 SOUNDBITE: (English) Paul Le Guen, former Oman national team manager:

SNTV

Sousse, Tunisia. 29th November, 2015.

31. 04:22 Etoile du Sahel players celebrate wining the cup.

32. 04:27 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Hamdy Naguey, Etoile du Sahel defender:

"Congratulations to Tunisia. As you can see, we are all happy here today. We worked very hard to achieve this success. We worked for a whole year to win this cup. It was a very difficult match. Congratulations again to us, our club Etoile du Sahel, and all of Tunisia."

33. Various of Etoile du Sahel players celebrating.

SNTV

New Delhi, India. 29th November, 2015..

34. 04:47 Various of Ahmed Khalil, AFC Player of the Year.

35. 04:56 SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ahmed Khalil, AFC Player of the Year (on winning the award):

"Thank God. This is a feeling to hard to describe. Of course it's true I won this trophy in 2008 then I hoped I would win it once more."

36. 05:13 Various of Ahmed Khalil, AFC Player of the Year.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide shot of Faisal Husseini International Stadium, pan from pitch to stands

2. Spectators' stands

3. Pan right on Palestinian national football team stretching before the game

4. Coach reading out players' names

5. Players stretching before friendly game with Jerusalem Club

6. Palestinian national team group photo

7. Wide shot match, Palestinian national team in orange uniform playing against local club called Jerusalem Club

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association:

"For us it's very important, it has historical dimension having the match on the Palestinian territories for the first time in the history of Palestine, on East Jerusalem, on Faisal Husseini Stadium. I do believe that this is a very important moment for the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian football family."

9. Various of lighting being installed at stadium

10. Crane lowering lighting equipment, pull out to wide of match

11. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Abdullah El-Fedawi, player, Palestinian national football team:

"As a player of an international team it is very important to play in your own country. I've been playing for a long time in the national team. I have played many times outside Palestine. When I play an international game today, in my land, in front of my supporters, it relaxes me, and gives me and the other players in the team confidence."

12. Palestinian players seated along wall in stadium, throwing ball

13. Wide shot match as Palestinian team scores goal

14. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ra'fat Ayad, player, Palestinian national football team:

"This thing shows that Palestine exists, that there are people who are still interested in sports and sports can spread political ideas, not just through wars, and shows that Palestine is alive."

15. Match in progress

16. Fans watching the game

17. Wide shot of the game

STORYLINE

The Palestinian national football team has been preparing to play its first international match on home soil, at the Faisal Husseini International Stadium in the West Bank town of Ram, just outside Jerusalem.

The team were out training on Monday for the historical match, scheduled for Sunday, October 26, and played a friendly match against local club Jerusalem Club.

Palestine will host Jordan in an exhibition match at the stadium, after ten years of playing ''home'' games in Jordan and Qatar.

The stadium has now been upgraded to meet the standards set by football's governing body, FIFA (the International Federation of Football Association).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter will attend Sunday's match against Jordan in the 6-thousand seat stadium, which has been renovated at a cost of 4 million US dollars.

Blatter is attending Sunday's game as part of a four-day visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Palestine is rated 180th of 207 nations in the FIFA rankings, peaking at Number 115 in April 2006, while Jordan is ranked 112.

Travel for away games has been complicated for the Palestinian team, who failed to arrive for a recent World Cup qualifier in Singapore because of travel restrictions imposed by Israel.

18 players and officials living in the Gaza Strip were denied travel permits.

This time too, several team members were still stuck in Gaza and are waiting for Israeli permits to come to the West Bank.

Israel has declared Gaza "hostile territory" and allows only humanitarian hardship cases to leave.

Hosting an international match is a point of pride for many Palestinians, as Palestine's decade-old team has previously been obliged to stage games it should have held at home in Jordan and Qatar instead.

Sport is the only field in which a Palestinian state is officially recognised, and so holds an important place in the hearts of Palestinians, whether resident in the Palestinian territories or members of the Palestinian diaspora, from which several players are drawn, from as far afield as Chile.

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, called it "a very important moment for the Palestinian people and for the Palestinian football family."

The Palestinian team also boasts players from the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza.

Players from the Gaza Strip were having difficulties getting to the West Bank - six of the team's 26 members, including its captain Saeb Jundiyeh, were still in Gaza, awaiting word from Israel on whether they would be permitted to travel to the West Bank.

Israeli officials had no immediate comment on the travel request.

Gaza has been virtually cut off from the world since the Islamic militant Hamas seized control of the territory in June 2007.

Hamas and the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who runs the West Bank, are bitter rivals. Gaza and the West Bank lie on opposite sides of Israel.

SOURCE: SNTV

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DURATION: 03:13

STORYLINE:

FIFA President Sepp Blatter spoke on Tuesday (7 April) at the 37th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), held in Cairo, Egypt.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

FIFA President Sepp Blatter says he does not want to see Israel suspended from world football for allegedly hampering teams in Palestine and will try to make sure it doesn't happen at FIFA's congress next month.

Blatter was asked about the issue at the Confederation of African Football's congress in Cairo on Tuesday.

Palestine's football federation has accused Israel of restricting the movement of Palestinian players between Gaza and the West Bank and has said it will submit a proposal for Israel's suspension at the FIFA congress in Zurich at the end of next month.

Blatter said suspending a national federation for any reason "is always something which harms the whole organisation."

Blatter said he was due to meet Palestine football federation president Jibril Rajoub in Cairo later on Tuesday.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The head of African football says his entire continent will back Sepp Blatter for re-election as FIFA president next month.

Issa Hayatou, president of the Confederation of African Football, made the comment in his speech at the opening of its congress in Cairo on Tuesday.

Blatter was also present.

Hayatou referred to Blatter as "dear Sepp," and said CAF's 54 member countries would all vote for the 79-year-old Swiss in FIFA's presidential election in Zurich on May 29.

Hayatou said Blatter was "at home" in Africa and not in "hostile territory," an apparent reference to the criticism Blatter received when he attended the UEFA congress last month.

Africa is a strong base of support for Blatter and has traditionally voted as a block for him.

SHOTLIST: Cairo, Egypt. 7 April 2015

1. 00:00 Pan down outside the Marriott hotel

2. 00:05 Wide of the assembly

3. 00:07 Close of CAF logo

4. 00:10 Wide of assembly

5. 00:15 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA president (on 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which will be held in November and December).

"The decision we have taken for the Qatar 2022. Now if this has an influence on the competitions in the Arab world or competition of clubs, I think you are touching the international calendar. Naturally, the international calendar must be adapted in 2022. We still have seven years to go but as the Secretary General Jerome Valcke just confirmed, it will be done in the next months that we have to adapt now the calendar of 2022. And the international calendar and where there is a will, and the will has been expressed, there should be a way. Again we will call on those that are not so happy with the decision to call on the solidarity in football."

6. 01:14 Mid of camera crews

7. 01:21 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA president (asked about corruption within FIFA).

"The declaration that you are doing here, I reject it and I do not enter in such declarations. I'm sorry I'm speaking about solidarity. I'm also speaking about fair play."

8. 01:44 Mid of attendees

9. 01:49 SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, FIFA president (on Israel-Palestine issue).

"You are right, there has been a letter coming out from the Palestinian Football Federation towards FIFA to put on the agenda of the FIFA congress on the 28th and 29th of May the suspension of a national association and in this case, Israel. This is a very, very serious matter and is a case which has been debated at the last executive committee and the executive committee has mandated the FIFA president as it has been done two years ago already by the congress to deal directly this matter with the Palestine authorities and the football of Palestine but also with the Israel authorities and also the Israeli football. Therefore you are right, I will meet later this afternoon the President of the Palestinian Football Federation, President Jibril Rajoub. I cannot give you more details as it is right now."

10. 03:08 Wide of assembly

SOURCE: SNTV

FIFA president Sepp Blatter meets Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, the vice-president Asia-FIFA in Amman, the capital of Jordan, on Monday (26th May).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Sepp Blatter, the president of FIFA, said on Monday (26th May) that his mission is not over yet - and he still has the same energy he had when he started to globally develop football.

Blatter met with Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, the Asia-FIFA vice-president, in Amman as part of his regional tour to Jordan, Palestine and Israel.

During a joint press conference with Prince Ali at the Jordan Football Association offices, Blatter said that his visit to Ramallah and Israel is to defend the football in Palestine and also to defend the football in Israel.

Blatter will travel to Ramallah later on Monday where he will meet with President Mahmoud Abbas.

Amman, Jordan. Monday 26th May 2014

1. 00:00 Mid of Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, and Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein, vice-president of Asia-FIFA getting out of car and walking towards the Jordan Football Association offices.

2. 00:13 Various of meeting between Blatter and Ali.

3. 00:34 Wide of Blatter and Ali entering press conference room.

4. 00:42 Mid of cameramen.

5. 00:46 SOUNDBITE: (English), Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA:

"We are going to Palestine and then to Israel and why? It is not my first visit to have this step by step, let's say politics in brackets, because we want to defend the football, we want to defend the footballers in Palestine but we want also to defend the footballers in Israel. What is the problem? The problem is there are two nations. The problem is these two nations they have a National Football Association and they are entitled to work and to participate in all international competitions. But where is the problem? One of these nations have no territory, they have no own territory, this is an occupy territory, and that's why it is so difficult but we shall find a solution that football can be played international football, teams, goods, coaches coming in to Palestine and going out. And here is the problem, that's the only problem, but we tried to do it."

6. 01:55 Wide of media.

7. 01:59 SOUNDBITE: (English), Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA:

"To have a woman's competition in the middle of the Arabic World. What that means? That means that it is a milestone, a milestone to show to the World that woman's football is open for everybody. And congratulations again to this gentleman at my right side, because he was insisted if the International Football Association Board two years ago in the meeting to say let play all the ladies and girls, and let them have the scarf if they want to play with a scarf."

8. 02:33 Wide of press conference.

9. 02:38 SOUNDBITE: (English), Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA:

"My mandate will come to an end in 2015, but my mission is not over. I will explain that to the Congress now coming in 2014 on the 11th of June, now where we want to go with FIFA. We have not yet finished the reform and also I'm still, I'm still full of the same energy when I started to develop football, and we have not finished with the development of football, because development will never stop."

10. 03:16 Wide of media

11. 03:21 Mid of Blatter receiving gift from Prince Ali.

12. 03:29 Various of Blatter and Ali leaving.

SHOTLIST:

Ram, West Bank

1. Wide pan of Faisal Husseini International Stadium, stands full of fans to attend friendly football match between Palestine and Jordan

2. Mid shot Palestinian fans in stand, Palestinian flag stretched over stand

3. Mid shot excited Palestinian fans jumping up and down

4. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Fayez Cdoh from Nablus, Palestinian football team fan

"I am very happy today because we managed today as a Palestinian people to see other Arab teams coming to play us on our beloved Palestinian soil, especially in Jerusalem, or at the gates to Jerusalem."

5. Excited Palestinian fans

6. Wide of pitch as Jordanian team come on, they all kneel to kiss the ground

7. Various of match in progress

Ramallah, West Bank

8. Exterior shot of Mukata, headquarters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

9. Interior Mukata, zoom in as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas presents FIFA President Sepp Blatter with a medal, applause, they shake hands and embrace

10. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President

"This is a sporting event, but we also take this opportunity to say that we hope the political situation improves and that things get better between us and Israel, so we can achieve peace."

11. Wide shot Blatter speaking at news conference

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA (International Federation of Football Association)

"So finally our objectives are not so far than your objectives, Mr President, or the objectives of the prime minister and his government, but we can only give you a pass with the ball, but you have to realise yourself your objectives, because we can not enter into the direct movement of politics but we can help it a bit with the ball to give a double pass, and perhaps it can be a success."

Gaza City, Gaza Strip

13. Rear shot Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, watching football game on television at home

14. Close up television showing match

15. Low shot Haniyeh and minister watching match

16. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza

"The Palestinian people are united. I hope this game can pave the road to restoring the internal Palestinian relations and bring them back on track, even if the way is very difficult and complicated. But we still hope this match leaves a positive impression for the Palestinian national dialogue."

17. Close up game on TV, pull out to Haniyeh clapping as goal is scored

18. Interior home of the captain of Palestinian football team, Saeb Jundiyeh, pan from TV to Jundiyeh watching game at home, having been prevented by Israel from travelling to the West Bank to attend the game

19. Close up match on TV

20. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saeb Jundiyeh, Captain of Palestinian national football team

"Every player hopes to be a part of his national team, whether Palestine or any other country, and eagerly awaiting moments like this match, but when there is suddenly a decision that prevents you from taking part, it is an indescribably difficult feeling. I would not wish this experience on any player, Palestinian or from any where in the world."

21. Jundiyah watching game on television with his family

STORYLINE:

The Palestinian national football team on Sunday played its first international match on home soil, at the Faisal Husseini International Stadium in the West Bank town of Ram, just outside Jerusalem.

Palestine hosted Jordan in the historical match at the stadium, after ten years of playing "home" games in Jordan and Qatar.

The stadium has just been upgraded to meet the standards set by football's governing body, FIFA (the International Federation of Football Association).

FIFA President Sepp Blatter attended the match in the 6-thousand seat stadium, which has been renovated at a cost of 4 million US dollars.

Blatter attended Sunday's game as part of a four-day visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Earlier, he was at the Ramallah headquarters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and the two held a joint press conference in which they both praised the historic match.

Thousands watched the match, and the crowd roared as Palestinian forward Ahmed Kashkash scored several minutes after kickoff. Jordan tied early in the second half.

Palestine is rated 180th of 207 nations in the FIFA rankings, peaking at Number 115 in April 2006, while Jordan is ranked 112.

Hosting an international match is a point of pride for many Palestinians, as sport is the only field in which a Palestinian state is officially recognised.

Travel for away games has been complicated for the Palestinian team, who failed to arrive for a recent World Cup qualifier in Singapore because 18 players and officials living in the Gaza Strip were denied travel permits by Israel.

This time too, not everyone was allowed travel to the match.

The Palestinian team boasts players from Jerusalem, the West Bank, Chile, and five players from the Gaza Strip who were granted permits by Israel to travel to the West Bank, just in time for the game.

But but the team's captain, Saeb Jundiyeh, was not, and had to watch it at home on television in Gaza City.

"Every player hopes to be a part of his national team, whether Palestine or any other country, and eagerly awaiting moments like this match, but when there is suddenly a decision that prevents you from taking part, it is an indescribably difficult feeling," a bitterly disappointed Jundiyeh said.

Israel and Egypt have virtually sealed off Gaza from the world since the Hamas political party took control of the territory in June 2007.

Gaza and the West Bank lie on opposite sides of Israel, and Gazans need Israeli permits to reach the West Bank.

In Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, the prime minister of the Hamas government there, said the game was an opportunity to bridge the rift among Palestinians.

"I hope this game can pave the road to restoring the internal Palestinian relations and bring them back on track," Haniyeh said.

Haniyeh, a former amateur player, was speaking as he watched the game in his Gaza City home, along with his two sons, a Cabinet minister and several bodyguards.

A spokesman for the Israeli Football Association, meanwhile, said Israel's national team had no immediate plans to play in the Ram Stadium, but noted that Israeli and Palestinian players formed a team last year to face Real Madrid.