Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, speaks during a press conference with FIFA Vice President Jordan's Prince Ali Bin al-Hussein on the first day of Blatter's regional tour to Jordan, Palestinian territories and Israel, in Amman, Jordan, Monday, May 26, 2014. During a joint press conference with Prince Ali at Jordan's Football Association office, Blatter said that his visit to Ramallah and Israel is to defend football in Palestine and also to defend football in Israel. (AP Photo)
FIFA President Sepp Blatter says he is determined to solve the Palestinian Football Association's ongoing problems with Israel in high-level meetings.
Some members of the Palestinian national team have been prevented from travel by what Israel calls security restrictions.
The head of the Palestinian association has called for FIFA sanctions against Israel.
Blatter told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a meeting Monday that "we shall find a solution" but that "it will not be so easy to deal on the other side," meaning Israel.
Blatter says he is meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.
Blatter pledged his support, telling a beaming Abbas that "your people, but also your football association, is not alone in the world."
Blatter says he is a "self-declared ambassador of the Palestine people."
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
Short link: