FIFA has said in a statement that it is "premature" to take any final decision on the controversial issue of Israeli football clubs in the West Bank.
The communique came after a five-hour long FIFA Council meeting on Tuesday in Bahrain, in advance of the issue being scheduled for discussion by its annual congress, which takes place in Manama on May 11.
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) argues that the presence of six Israeli football clubs playing inside settlements in the occupied West Bank, that are seen as illegal under international law, are also in breach of FIFA statutes.
These statutes forbid another member association playing on another territory without permission.
Israel argues that FIFA rules are unenforceable as there is no permanent border.
The issue, which has become a long-running sore for FIFA, was further inflamed this week after reports that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, phoned Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, apparently asking for the item to be taken off of this week's agenda.
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