Hi °C | Lo °C A number of your correspondents have misrepresented David Morrison's criticism of the IFA decision to organise a ‘friendly’ match against Israel (Writeback July 20).
I was one of the Glentoran fans who applauded Israeli side Maccabi Haifa, off the pitch at the Oval earlier in the week.
But the decision to invite the Israeli national side, at a time when that country is rightly the subject of criticism from all of the Christian Churches, the UN and and the US President, among others, sends out the wrong signal around the world.
In Israel, just as in Apartheid South Africa, sport and politics are inextricably linked. For example, the Palestinian National Football team, recognised by FIFA in 1998, was deliberately
impeded from qualifying for the 2006 World Cup by withdrawal of visas for its players.
Two of them were killed in the recent assault on Gaza and their ground at Rafah was destroyed.
Any failure to also invite the Palestinian team for a future game, will be construed, at best, whether intended or not, as a show of moral indifference. At worst, as a partisan, value judgment in favour of Israel's conduct.
Michael Robinson
le jeu avant tout
