Footballers protest at choice of host
Date December 2, 2012
Game over ... the bombed Gaza stadium. Photo: AFP
A GROUP of high-profile footballers in European leagues has condemned plans to hold the Under-21 European championship in Israel next year, saying it will be seen as a ''reward'' for last month's assault on Gaza in which young people playing football were killed when a sports stadium was bombed.
The signatories, who include Eden Hazard of Chelsea, Abou Diaby of Arsenal and five Newcastle players - Papiss Cisse, Cheick Tiote, Sylvain Marveaux, Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba - also criticised Israel's continued detention without charge or trial of two Palestinian footballers.
Several former English Premier League players also signed, including Didier Drogba and Frederic Kanoute, both of whom now play in China.
Among the wreckage ... a Palestinian boy. Photo: AFP
The statement roundly condemns the Israeli assault on Gaza and refers to the destruction of a football stadium that the Israeli military said had previously been used by Hamas as a rocket launching site, but which at the time of the bombing was not.
''We are informed that on 10 November 2012 the Israeli army bombed a sports stadium in Gaza, resulting in the death of four young people playing football,'' the statement read.
''It is unacceptable that children are killed while they play football. Israel hosting the UEFA Under-21 European championship, in these circumstances, will be seen as a reward for actions that are contrary to sporting values.''
The draw for the tournament will be held this coming Wednesday in Tel Aviv.
But the choice of Israel for the competition is facing an increasingly strong challenge from pro-Palestinian activists who say that while the Jewish state has an equal place among footballing nations, it actively prevents the Palestinians from having one.
