'Messi Don't Come': Palestinian Fans Burn Football Star's Shirts Ahead of Match
On Sunday, the Palestinian football chief declared a campaign against Argentina and particularly Messi, if he comes to play at Jerusalem’s Teddy Kollek stadium.
Argentina will play against Israel in a World Cup warm-up match on Saturday, and although football star Lionel Messi’s participation has garnered wide excitement in the area, Palestinian fans aren’t happy.
The match was originally planned to be played in Haifa but was later moved to Jerusalem.
The city, which is a highly sensitive area, will now host a worldwide icon and Palestinians feel that the Israeli government is turning a regular sports match into a political tool by changing the venue.
Some football fans have already burned Messi shirts in protest as they want Messi to call off his participation in the game.
Soccer-Fans Should Burn Messi Shirts if He Plays in Jerusalem Urges Palestinian Football Chiefhttps://t.co/RLkbtWukkB pic.twitter.com/HiYcovJQb1
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) June 4, 2018
?"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," Palestinian FA Chief Jibril Rajoub was reported by Haaretz as saying.
A small group of young football fans wearing Palestine soccer scarves demonstrated outside the Argentinean representation office and attempted to set fire to an Argentinian flag.
Your about to see a flood of Messi shirt burning and hate if he plays that friendly in Jerusalem .
— AJ Jarwan (@aj_jarwan) June 4, 2018
That Messi’s shirts are cheaper than Ronaldo’s.
— RAMESSES THE GREAT (@keylorkuong) June 3, 2018
[MOST READ] 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. https://t.co/pJnEaRefCf pic.twitter.com/vxanoAwXXm
— Eyewitness News (@ewnupdates) June 4, 2018
It's a free world...nothing to do with Messi...he can do what he wants!!!
— @HelenB (@HelenBlanckenbe) June 4, 2018
- Source : Sputnik