- Title: Israel blames Palestinians for cancellation of Argentina soccer friendly
- Date: 6th June 2018
- Summary: JERUSALEM (JUNE 6, 2018) (REUTERS) MAN IN EMPTY JERUSALEM TEDDY STADIUM, WHERE ARGENTINA'S SOCCER TEAM WAS SCHEDULED TO PLAY IN A FRIENDLY MATCH AGAINST ISRAEL'S TEAM, WHICH WAS CANCELLED BY THE ARGENTINEAN TEAM AMID PALESTINIAN PRESSURE MAN CLOSING GATE TO STADIUM SIGN READING (English): 'ISRAEL VS ARGENTINA' PEOPLE SEATED OUTSIDE CAFE IN JERUSALEM'S MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (H
- Embargoed: 20th June 2018 12:45
- Keywords: Israel Argentina soccer Jerusalem Israeli-Palestinian conflict Palestinians
- Location: JERUSALEM / RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
- City: JERUSALEM / RAMALLAH, WEST BANK
- Country: Jerusalem
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0018J677LZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Israelis voiced disappointment while Palestinian soccer officials praised Argentina and its star Lionel Messi on Wednesday (June 6) for calling off a friendly match against Israel that Israeli officials had planned to move to Jerusalem.
Argentina's final World Cup warm-up against Israel was originally slated to be held in the Israeli coastal city of Haifa but was moved to Jerusalem at the urging of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain announced on Tuesday (June 5) it was cancelled.
Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub said that Israel tried to use the Argentinean team as a political tool, before thanking the players in a news conference on Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
It was a change of tone from Rajoub, who on Sunday (June 3) had called for Palestinians to burn replica Messi shirts and photos if the Argentinean played in Jerusalem.
Israel's Football Association accused the Palestinians of crossing a "red line" by inciting anger towards the Argentinean players in order to scupper the match. It said it would complain to soccer world governing body FIFA about Rajoub's comments, which it described as "physical and brutal threats". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None