ISRAEL: SECURITY CONCERNS AND BAD FELLING DOMINATE ISRAEL'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AGAINST AUSTRIA

Record ID: 400698

  • Title: ISRAEL: SECURITY CONCERNS AND BAD FELLING DOMINATE ISRAEL'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIER AGAINST AUSTRIA
  • Date: 27th October 2001
  • Summary: RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL (OCTOBER 27, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. ISRAELIS STANDING IN LINE TO ENTER ISRAELS RAMAT GAN NATIONAL STADIUM 2. ISRAELI POLICEMAN CARRYING OUT SECURITY INSPECTION ON YOUNG ISRAELI FAN 3. ISRAELI BORDER POLICEMAN STANDING AT ENTRANCE TO STADIUM 4. WOMAN COVERED WITH ISRAELI FLAG ENTERING STADIUM 5. BORDER POLIC
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVA2M6Y5R71BY3NJBT3Z05UXTYS4
  • Story Text: Austria drew 1-1 with Israel at the national stadium on
    Saturday in a match dominated by security concerns and bad
    feeling.

    Before the game some Israeli fans had jeered and chanted
    at the Austrian team but afterwards the supporters went home
    disconsolate after missing the chance of a world cup play-off.


    Austrian skipper Andreas Herzog scored a dramatic
    injury time free-kick to snatch his side a World Cup playoff
    against Turkey next month after drawing 1-1 at Israel's Ramat
    Gan stadium on Saturday (October 27).

    The result denied the Israelis a two-legged showdown with
    the Turks as they would have beaten Austria on goal
    difference.

    An unprecedented 1,300 police and other security officials
    were on duty for the 42,000 sell-out game making it among the
    most tightly guarded sports event in Israels history. Israeli
    officials, including Israeli President Moshe Katzav came to
    watch the match, further heightening security.

    Some Israelis supporters jeered and chanted at the
    Austrian players as they arrived at the stadium. One called
    them "Nazis" and told them to go home.

    The tie has been beset by controversy and had taken on
    great significance for Israelis after Austria tried to have
    the game rescheduled because of security concerns at
    travelling to the Middle East. The original date was changed
    by FIFA because of the crash of a Russian plane which had
    taken off from Tel Aviv.

    Nine Austrian players had pulled out before the original
    date for the fixture on October 7, saying they feared for
    their safety.

    Subsequently, two other players who were later called up
    also pulled out. Three other players were unavailable because
    of injury and suspension.

    The Austrian FA, unhappy that the match had not been moved
    to a neutral venue, attempted to get it postponed again on
    Tuesday when they complained to FIFA over fears about their
    food at their Tel Aviv hotel.

    The AFA were worried that they would not be able to
    receive freshly-cooked hot meals on Saturday because, they
    believed, the hotel observes strict dietary laws which prevent
    it from lighting a flame on the Jewish Sabbath.

    But the Israel FA assured FIFA that would not be the case,
    and the match was given the go-ahead.


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