Beautiful game gets Messi with fake news from Hamas
Facts. Simon Griver, The Jewish Chronicle, March 7:
If Argentina win the World Cup this summer, Israel can take some of the credit. The Argentinian players — Lionel Messi … et al — are due in Jerusalem on June 9 to play a friendly match in the Teddy Stadium … Many of the players are devout Catholics who believe that the opportunity to pray in Jerusalem will boost their World Cup chances. Pope Francis … will reportedly send a personal emissary to conduct a special mass for the team in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Messi, the team captain … said: “I really want to visit the Holy Land and for Argentina this will be an important professional and spiritual journey and I’m convinced that coming to Israel ahead of the World Cup will do us good.” The match revives a tradition begun in 1986 when Argentina beat Israel 7-2 in the Ramat Gan stadium several weeks before the World Cup finals which they went on to win in Mexico.
Palestinian facts. Ali Sawafta in Ramallah, Reuters, June 4:
The Palestine Football Association chief urged fans on Sunday to burn pictures of Argentina striker Lionel Messi and replicas of his shirt if he plays against Israel in Jerusalem next weekend … On Sunday, (Palestinian FA chief Jibril) Rajoub declared a campaign against Argentina and particularly Messi, noting he has millions of fans across the Arab and Islamic world, Asia and Africa. “He’s a big symbol so we are going to target him personally and we call on all to burn his picture and his shirt and to abandon him. We still hope that Messi will not come” … A small group of youths wearing Palestine soccer scarves demonstrated outside the representation office and attempted to set fire to an Argentinian flag.
No threats! Ruth Eglash, The Washington Post, June 6:
Argentina’s national soccer team announced Wednesday it was cancelling a friendly match against Israel’s national team … For Palestinians … there was jubilation. They praised the Argentine team for taking a stand against Israel … Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Association, said … he did not make any threats and was involved only in peaceful protests …
Threats against everyone! Debora Rey in Buenos Aires, Associated Press, June 6:
A senior official at the Argentine Football Federation says the national team decided to cancel its … match with Israel after receiving threats from the Islamic militant group Hamas. ... The official (spoke) on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns … A Hamas official mocked the reports … saying they don’t deserve a comment.-
Fake news Palestinian-style? Talha Farooq Butt tweets, June 6:
Lionel Messi Tyc Sports: “As a UNICEF ambassador I cannot play against people (Israel) who kill innocent Palestinian children. We had to cancel the game because we are humans before footballers.”
What Messi actually said in 2014. Firstpost.com, 25 August 2014:
As a father and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, I am terribly saddened by the images coming from the conflict between Israel and Palestine, where violence has already claimed so many young lives and injured countless children.
Children did not create this conflict, but they are paying the ultimate price. This cycle of senseless violence must stop.
We must reflect on the consequences of military conflicts and children must be protected.