Sportsעאטף אבו בילאל

Atef Abu Bilal

Atef Abu Bilal is an Israeli-born footballer who played for the Palestine national team and for many clubs in Israeli and Palestinian football.

born 1984Playing for Palestine national teamThe 99-year ban in 2014Career in Israeli lower leagues

Born: 5 February 1984, Shaqib al-Salam
Occupation: association football player

Atef Abu Bilal was born in 1984 in Shaqib al-Salam

Atef Abu Bilal was born in the Bedouin village of Segev Shalom, Israel, to an Arab Muslim family. He also holds Palestinian citizenship.

He came up through the youth system of Hapoel Be'er Sheva and spent most of his career in the lower Israeli leagues. He played for clubs such as Hapoel Masos Segev Shalom, Maccabi Ironi Netivot and Hapoel Rahat. In Palestine he won the league title with Shabab Al-Dhahiriya and later joined Shabab Al-Khalil.

He first played for the Palestine national team in 2010 against Sudan. He took part in the 2010 WAFF Championship and in qualifying for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup and the 2014 World Cup. After returning to Israeli club football in 2013, he was not called up again.

In 2014 he was registered with both Maccabi Segev Shalom and a Palestinian club, and the Israel Football Association's court banned him for 99 years. About a month and a half later the court canceled its decision and cleared him. In 2020 he joined Markaz Balata in the Palestinian league.