RAMALLAH, June 6, 2018 (WAFA) –Palestinians welcomed on Wednesday the decision by the Argentine Football Federation to cancel its World Cup warm-up friendly football match with the Israeli football team that was supposed to take place in Jerusalem on Saturday.

Jibril Rjoub, head of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA), welcomed the decision which came after intense pressure by PFA with the help of other regional and international bodies.

Rjoub told Palestine TV that the cancellation of the match was “a slap to the Israeli government” for insisting to hold the game in Jerusalem after it was originally scheduled to be held in the northern coastal city of Haifa.

However, he said, “the Argentine national team and its star player, Lionel Messi, a sport icon loved by many, slapped (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu by refusing to hold the match.”

He said, “Values, morality and the message of sports have triumphed today and the red card was raised in the face of Israel by cancelling this game.”

Rjoub had accused the Israeli government and football association of politicizing sports by moving the match to Jerusalem and saying that it will be held to celebrate 70 years for Israel’s creation.

K.T./M.K.