Egypt national team players
צילום: AP
Egypt cancels soccer game against PA due to Israeli involvement
Religious figure says visit to West Bank with Israeli approval would constitute 'a show of support for the occupation'; Football Association chief: We wanted to show solidarity with the Palestinian people'
Egypt's national soccer team canceled a scheduled friendly with the Palestinian Authority's squad because the visit would require visas issued by Israel, Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram reported Sunday.
The game was set to take place this coming Sunday in the 6,000-seat Faisal Husseini Stadium in the town of Ram, just outside Jerusalem.
"If our national team visits (the West Bank) with visas issued by Israel, it would constitute a show of support for the Israeli occupation," said Egyptian religious figure Ahmed Hossam during a local television show. Most of the listeners who called in also opposed the trip if it requires Israel's approval.
Samir Zaher, president of the Egyptian Football Association, said, "We wanted to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, but under the circumstances we will not be able to do so this month."
Hany Ramzi, a former sweeper for the Egyptian national team and current coach of its under 21 squad said, "We are against the normalization of ties with Israel. All we wanted to do was support the Palestinian people."
It should be noted that Ramzi visited Israel in 1994 with German team Werder Bremen for a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup match against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
