Algerian players boycott football match | Tachles

The reason for the refusal is the Israeli football coach Avraham Grant.

Three Algerian soccer players boycotted going to the field for a friendly match between former soccer stars in Qatar. The reason was the participation of the Israeli Avraham Grant, who coached the other side. 3500 football fans had come to the stadium in the Qatari capital Doha to see former Arab stars of the round leather play against ex-world stars. Still full of optimism, but apparently without much knowledge of the facts on the field, FIFA President Gianni Infantino declared before kick-off: “Tonight we will unite the Arab world with the whole world. We are all one team ». Three Algerian players apparently had nothing to do with that spirit of unity. Rather, they decided to step back from the game and not play against someone with an Israeli nationality. The match, which the Arab side won in the penalty shootout, took place one day before the Fifa Arab Cup final between Tunisia and Algeria. The Fifa Arab Cup took place in Qatar, one year before the Gulf state becomes the first Middle East country to host the World Cup. Qatar has not yet had any relations with Israel, and its foreign minister recently said it did not intend to do so until a solution to the Palestinian issue was found. Algeria also has no diplomatic relations with the Jewish state and is a vocal friend of the Palestinians. In September, Algerian judoka Fethi Nourine was banned from all competitions by the International Judo Federation for ten years after he forfait at the Tokyo Olympics to avoid a possible fight against an Israeli opponent.