Palestinians are attempting to get Israel thrown out of FIFA, the world’s body over international soccer competition, claiming that Israel unfairly treats Palestinian athletes.

“Negotiations are still going on but they are very complicated,” a top FIFA official told AFP.  “There may not be a solution until the final hours.”

Officials inside FIFA said that the only way the vote on Israel’s removal can be stopped is if Palestine pulls their demand.

The head of the Palestinian Football Association has refused to withdraw the motion, which would require 3/4 of the 209 member federations to approve.  They want Israel banned from international competition and for clubs in the Jewish West Bank settlements to be banned from any competition.

The head of FIFA is vehemently against the action, saying that it is bringing politics into the Federation.  Sepp Blatter said that he met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority to try and stop the vote from taking place.

Blatter said that Israel has done nothing to violate the FIFA statutes and that they should not face any kind of negative action from the group if they have violated no statutes.

However, Israeli officials have noted the head of the Palestinian group has violated FIFA statutes by calling for violent attacks on Israelis and supporting terrorist organizations.