Druze Arab cleared to play for Israel

FIFA has given a Druze Arab from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights permission to play for Israel, even though he is not a citizen of the country.

Maccabi Haifa’s Weaam Amasha is the leading Israeli league scorer this season with 12 goals from 13 matches, but he was unable to play for Israel because he does not have a passport. He was born in the Golan Heights territory, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed in 1981 in a move that has not been recognised internationally.

Golan Druze are entitled to Israeli citizenship since the annexation, but most of them, including Amasha, have not taken up the offer, citing historic links to Syria. Amasha goes overseas with Maccabi Haifa on an Israeli-issued travel document which is not a full passport.

“FIFA have decided to take the special case into consideration and will allow [Amasha] to play for the national team without a passport,” an Israeli FA statement said. Amasha said: “I have been waiting for this news for a long time. I want to improve and play at the highest level. Now I must wait to be called up.”