RAMALLAH, May 28, 2018 (WAFA) – Israel is politicizing sports by scheduling a football game with the Argentina football team in Jerusalem, Jibril Rjoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association, charged on Monday.

“Israel is politicizing sports and uses football as a political tool to normalize the illegal annexation of Jerusalem,” he said in a statement, adding that Israel is also “misleading Argentinian public opinion by publicizing the game in Jerusalem as “the united city of the Jewish people.”

Argentina is going to play the Israeli football team on June 9 as part of its preparations to play in the World Cup in Russia.

Rjoub sent protest letters to the Argentine Football Association, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the international and European federations, which Israel belongs to, as well as Arab and Islamic federations.

He demanded taking immediate steps to change the venue of the game and to commit to FIFA principles of separation between sports and politics.

He said holding the game in Jerusalem came in submission to “big political pressure by the Israeli government.”

Rjoub said Israel publicized that this game is being played as part of its celebration of 70 years for its creation, which, he said, is clear politicization of the game.

He said Israel “uses sports to whitewash its illegal acts,” mentioning the presence of six Israeli football teams playing in settlements built illegally on occupied Palestinian land.

He advised Argentina not to play in Jerusalem because this would cost it its reputation and the loss of its fans all over the world/

M.K.