More than just soccer
Fury against French goalie who didn't want to come to Israel ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier soccer match, concern boos against French anthem may spark diplomatic crisis; goalie attempts to ease tensions
Protesters are sure to "greet" French goalie Fabien Barthez with loud boos and whistles after last weeks outburst, in which he said he would refuse to travel to Israel for Wednesday evening's World Cup qualifying match against Israel to protest the government's policy in the West Bank and Gaza.
"When you look at everything going on in the world, I don't understand why we are going to play in Israel," he said.
Barthez later changed his mind and arrived in Israel with the rest of the French team on Monday for the game. But he pointedly refused to apologize for his views.
Barthez the Nazi
Since Barthez's outburst, Israel supporters have flooded internet chat rooms and discussion forums with ideas about exactly how to react to the goalie when he runs onto the field in Ramat Gan, including calls to whistle, boo, and even sit down during La Marseillaise.
In addition, a digitally-manipulated photo was posted of Barthez giving a stiff-armed Nazi salute against a background of a swastika flag, with the caption "Barthez the Nazi."
Foreign Ministry and Israeli Soccer Association officials have appealed to Israeli fans to not to display "embarrassing behavior," and reminded fans that when the teams met last year in Paris, Hatikvah was received respectfully.
"Just imagine how Israel would have reacted if they'd shouted it down," said the source.
Both sides attempt to ease tensions
France is well known to be very touchy about La Marseilles. When Algerian fans booed the anthem during a 2001 match in Paris, fans stormed the playing field and the incident aroused fury throughout France. Six months later, President Jaques Chirac stormed out of a match in Corsica during a similar occurance.
Attempting to avert a crisis, Tourism Ministry Director Eli Cohen has sent a gift package sent from the Ministry to all members of the French squad, including a personal letter to Barthez, saying "You spoke without knowing Israel, and I believe that after your stay here you will come to change your opinions. You will find Israel to be a terrific country, and very warm to visitors."
Barthez took time Wednesday from his squad's preparations for the crucial game to respond to Cohen with a personal letter of his own that said "Israel is an amazing country and I will do all I can to visit again."
"I discovered there are good people here. The quotes in the media were taken out of context," he said in the letter.
