Sweden requests cancellation of national youth soccer team's match in Israel
In wake of IDF raid on Gaza-aid flotilla, Swedish Soccer Association asks UEFA to nix its national youth squad's match in Israel scheduled for Friday.
The Swedish Soccer Association has asked UEFA that its national youth soccer team not be sent to Israel for an official match scheduled for Friday against Israel in the preliminaries of the European championship. The request comes in the wake of the Israeli Navy's interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that turned deadly.
"As humans, we are revolted by violence and shocked by what we saw," said Lars-Ake Lagrell, the head of the Swedish Soccer Association.
The Swedish Soccer Association said it would accept whatever decision made by UEFA on the request, even if it meant sending the team to Israel to play the match as scheduled.
According to Swedish media reports, there were 11 Swedish nationals who participated in the flotilla that was stopped by Israel.
On Monday, a national Turkish youth squad cancelled a match against its Israeli counterpart after it was ordered by the Turkish government to return home.
In a statement released on Monday, the Israeli Soccer Association said it was troubled by the mixing of politics with sports and that the game could and should have been held.
Haaretz
In wake of IDF raid on Gaza-aid flotilla, Swedish Soccer Association asks UEFA to nix its national youth squad's match in Israel scheduled for Friday.
The Swedish Soccer Association has asked UEFA that its national youth soccer team not be sent to Israel for an official match scheduled for Friday against Israel in the preliminaries of the European championship. The request comes in the wake of the Israeli Navy's interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that turned deadly.
"As humans, we are revolted by violence and shocked by what we saw," said Lars-Ake Lagrell, the head of the Swedish Soccer Association.
The Swedish Soccer Association said it would accept whatever decision made by UEFA on the request, even if it meant sending the team to Israel to play the match as scheduled.
According to Swedish media reports, there were 11 Swedish nationals who participated in the flotilla that was stopped by Israel.
On Monday, a national Turkish youth squad cancelled a match against its Israeli counterpart after it was ordered by the Turkish government to return home.
In a statement released on Monday, the Israeli Soccer Association said it was troubled by the mixing of politics with sports and that the game could and should have been held.
Haaretz
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