October 8-The Israeli World Cup qualification match this Tuesday in Italy is a focal point in a geopolitical storm. While the Azzurri is preparing to receive Israel in the Stadio Friuli in Udine next week, the structure is determined by protests, politics and painful questions about the good and bad sides of invasions and the war in Gaza.
Outside the stadium, thousands of demonstrators are expected as a token of support to the Palestinians. It follows scenes in Florence last week, when demonstrators surrounded the Italy training camp to demand that the game was canceled because of the Israeli war in Palestine. “It won’t be a quiet environment,” gnaro Gennaro Gattuso admitted. “There will be 10,000 people outside and 5-6,000 in the stadium.”
UEFA has briefly considered suspending Israel’s participation in qualifying, following the action taken against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but controversially, Israel was not forbidden after Hamas had accepted a peace plan. A separate complaint from the Palestinian FA with FIFA about Israeli illegal settlers on the West Bank who play football teams in the Israeli competitions must still be assessed by FIFA.
The mayor of Udine, Alberto Felice de Toni, has called for the postponement of the competition, but Italy, which has made a mess of the recent World Cup qualification, cannot run the risk of losing. “We have to play this game. Because if we don’t, we will lose the game 3-0,” said Gattuso. “President Gravina has explained that very well.”
The comparison with the exclusion of Russia from competition makes things more complicated. In 2022, UEFA and FIFA Russian teams made it out of all competitions, thereby referring to the need to protect ‘sport integrity and safety’. Israel, however, continues to compete in qualifying, even now that the war continues and the humanitarian crises are getting worse to the point that the UN has cited a number of cases of genocide.
Although there are tensions in the political circles, the minds on the field between the two countries are fraying. Italy defeated Israel 5-4 last month in a thriller with nine goals in Hungary and the emotions ran at the last whistle.
“It is disturbing to see what happens to innocent people and children,” said Gattuso. “It hurts your heart.”
Both countries are six points behind group leader Norway, making this a real six -point, where the loser is certainly not eligible for the tournament of next summer.
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