"Supporting Ireland": Arab media cheers boycott of Israel national team

Arab media launched a venomous attack on Israel following the Nations League matches against Ireland, backing boycotts and trying to pressure UEFA to expel Israeli football from international competitions. A Lebanese site published a column celebrating the political pressure and echoing incitement calls by Ireland's coach.

Arab media launched a venomous attack on the State of Israel following the conclusion of the Israel national team's Nations League matches against Ireland. The Lebanese site "ARZI NEWS" published a column celebrating the political pressure to expel Israeli football from international competitions, stating that "the renewed sporting isolation is chasing Israel." The writers did not hide their glee at the growing calls in Europe to expel the team, and exploited the platform to spread political poison against the backdrop of the IDF's justified fighting in the Gaza Strip. The article echoed and glorified the incitement calls of Ireland national team coach Heimir Hallgrímsson, who expressed hope "not to meet Israel again" and called for urgent UEFA intervention. The report even proudly presented the roots of the boycott going back to the 1970s, recalling moves led by Kuwait to freeze Israel's membership in the Asian Confederation. The writer compared Israel to Russia and cited dubious polls claiming that "football stadiums are gradually becoming a new arena for protest against Israeli policy." Nevertheless, UEFA makes clear it will not lend a hand to the politicization of sport.