By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
June 7 – Plans by Barcelona to stage a symbolic exhibition match against a joint Israeli-Palestinian team to try and heal the wounds between the two sides and promote Middle East peace have been ditched after no agreement could be reached between the various parties.
The idea for Barcelona to help strengthen dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians was originally proposed by Barcelona President Sandro Rosell (pictured) but it is understood there were too many objections, especially from the Palestinian side.
The friendly match had been set for July 31 at Israel’s National Stadium in Tel Aviv but instead Barcelona will hold a series of training clinics in the West Bank and Israel scheduled for August 3 and 4 to promote “peace between Israelis and Palestinians through the values of sport,” the club announced.
The initiative, named the FC Barcelona Peace Tour, will feature many of Barca’s top players including Lionel Messi. “FC Barcelona has become a channel for dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians,” Barca said in a statement. “The FC Barcelona Foundation has organised sports activities between the two communities in the past and is committed to continuing to do so as part of its ongoing effort to bring peace to the area.”
“FC Barcelona is firm in its commitment to promote freedom and democracy. The club’s long relationship with UNICEF puts children at the very centre of our initiatives. All proceeds of from the FC Barcelona Peace Tour will be donated to the promotion of peace between Israelis and Palestinians through the values of sport.”
Palestinian Football Association head Jibril Rajoub, a prominent figure at last week’s FIFA Congress in Mauritius, confirmed that the exhibition game would not be going ahead. “Because of the behaviour of the Israelis that targets sport and athletes, our movement is limited,” he was quoted as saying. “I believe that it’s too early to talk about a joint match because of the discriminatory behaviour, even on the playing field, which is being practiced by Israel.”
FIFA President Sepp Blatter promised the Palestine FA in Mauritius that he would personally intervene to try to end their long-running sporting problems with Israel. Blatter is due to visit the region in July to speak to politicians and sporting authorities to find a solution to Israeli travel restrictions on Palestinian players.
Palestine has been a FIFA member since 1998 but Israel’s security forces, who control movement between Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, are frequently accused of preventing athletes from travelling freely between the two areas. “I will travel in one month’s time to the region and meet the associations concerned but also the political authorities so that football activities and development programmes can continue without interference,” said Blatter.
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