FIFA President hosts Israeli-Palestinian football talks

FIFA President Sepp Blatter hopes to end the problem this year of Israeli security restrictions affecting Palestinian football.

Blatter says after hosting the two national football associations’ leaders that they agreed to send a delegate to Amman, Jordan, this month to make an “inventory” of problems between them.

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

Blatter says “as I am an optimist, at the end of the year we will have found a solution and will present (it) to the political authorities” in Israel.

Blatter says Israel football president Avi Luzon and Palestinian counterpart Jibril Rajoub never spoke together before Tuesday's session in Zurich.