By Andrew Warshaw
February 22 – Barcelona are trying to organise a symbolic peace match against a joint Israeli-Palestinian team to try and heal the wounds between two sides and promote the Middle East peace process.
Israeli FA chairman Avi Luzon said the proposed game would take place at the National Stadium in Tel Aviv on July 31 between Barcelona and a squad made up equally of Israeli and Palestinian players managed jointly by both of the national team coaches.
“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,” Barca Sandro Rosell (pictured left with Israeli president Shimon Peres) said when announcing the move during a visit to Tel Aviv the day after his club lost 2-0 to AC Milan in the Champions League.
In the interests of diplomatic balance, Rosell was expected to meet Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Barcelona hosted a similar peace match at the Nou Camp in 2005. Although they live side by side, Israeli and Palestinian teams do not play each other, partly because Israel are members of UEFA and the Palestinians part of the Asian football set-up.
One thorny issue that would have to be addressed for the match to go ahead will be access for Palestinian players and supporters. Rosell said Israeli president Peres had undertaken to ensure that all players selected to participate would be permitted to attend.