July 25 – Israel defender Roy Revivo lost his appeal of a two-game FIFA ban at the Paris Olympics in a ruling made hours before the team’s opener against Mali which saw a high level of security and peaceful, though vocal, protest.
Before the Mali game, Israel’s national anthem was loudly jeered. Once play began, Israeli players were booed each time they touched the ball.
The Israel team arrived under a heavy police escort, with motorbike riders at the front and about a dozen riot police vans following behind. Armed police officers patrolled the Parc des Princes stadium.
France is under pressure to make the July 26-August 11 Paris Games safe after repeatedly suffering terrorist attacks, with tensions are high because of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Revivo was sent off in a European Championship qualifying playoff game run by UEFA rather than FIFA which had previously ruled he must serve his ban at the Olympics.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport agreed, the panel of three judges dismissing his application to take part in the Games. Israel went on to draw 1-1 in what was their first appearance at the Olympic football event since 1976.
Revivo also will miss a game against Paraguay in Paris on Saturday. He may return when Israel plays Japan in Nantes on Tuesday.
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