FC Barcelona plans 'peace match' in Israel
FC Barcelona wants to play a friendly soccer match against a joint Israeli-Palestinian team in Ramat Gan at the end of July in the hope of promoting Middle East peace • FC Barcelona president met with Shimon Peres on Thursday.
Barcelona plans to play a friendly soccer match against a joint Israeli-Palestinian team in Ramat Gan at the end of July in the hope of promoting Middle East peace, the Catalonian club's president said on Thursday.
"Barcelona, wishes to ... contribute to the effort to strengthen the bridges of peace and dialogue between the Israeli and Palestinian communities. The best way we can do this is with a ball," Sandro Rosell said.
Rosell made the announcement alongside Israeli President Shimon Peres during a visit to Ramat Gan the day after his club lost 2-0 at Italian side AC Milan.
Israel Football Association Chairman Avi Luzon said the proposed game at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan on July 31 would be between Barcelona and a squad made up equally of Israeli and Palestinian players managed jointly by both of the national team coaches.
He added it was now up to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to agree to the proposal. Rosell will meet Abbas on Friday in Ramallah.
Even though they live side by side, Israeli and Palestinian teams do not play each other in competition, as Israel is a member of European soccer's governing body UEFA and the Palestinian soccer team plays in Asia.
An issue that will have to be addressed for the match to go ahead successfully will be access to the Israeli stadium for Palestinian players and supporters as Israeli security policy largely bars Palestinians from entering Israel.
Rosell said Peres had undertaken to ensure that all players selected to participate would be permitted to attend.
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