Udine mayor seeks to halt controversial World Cup qualifier but Italy’s interior ministry and head coach Gattuso say match to go ahead.
The Italian interior ministry on Monday waded into the escalating controversy over the upcoming Italy-Israel football match, saying it can go ahead as planned next month.
There are growing calls for authorities to stop the World Cup qualifier match from being played in the northern Italian city of Udine on 14 October, where Italy beat Israel 1-0 in a National League game on the same date last year.
The centre-left mayor of Udine, Alberto Felice De Toni called for the match to be postponed and “rescheduled”, to an undefined date, citing potential public order issues in the city.
Inappropriate
“Israel hasn’t been excluded from international sporting competitions, but in the face of a tragedy unparalleled in the last 80 years, it would be inappropriate to play now in the face of so much suffering,” De Toni told the Messaggero Veneto.
The mayor noted that the stadium is managed by football club Udinese, the decision to host the national team’s matches was made by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), and the match is organised by UEFA (Union of European Football Associations).
“The municipality is at the third level, and we are responsible for public order, coordinated by the prefecture”, De Toni said, predicting a repeat of the protests sparked by last year’s Italy-Israel match, and adding: “I’m 70 years old and I don’t remember anything like what’s happening in Gaza.”
Support for the match
However the interior ministry has clarified that the match can be played regularly, “as far as the ministry’s jurisdiction is concerned”.
National team coach Gennaro Gattuso, speaking in a press conference on Monday, declared himself “a man of peace”, stating: “It’s heartbreaking to see civilians and children lose their lives” but insisted: “Israel is in our group, we have to play”.
Deputy premier Matteo Salvini, who in July received the Italy-Israel Award and was recognised as “Israel’s best friend in Italy”, said: “Italy and Israel must play in the World Cup qualifiers. Sport brings people together, this is not a time for hatred.”
Italy’s sports minister Andrea Abodi has repeatedly insisted that the Italy-Israel match will go ahead as scheduled, arguing that excluding Israeli athletes would mean “a further step backwards from the role of sport, which is meant to unite.”
“What is the difference between Israel and Russia, which is excluded from sporting competitions? I believe there is a difference, and I weigh my words responsibly” – Abodi told reporters in July – “Russia is an aggressor, Israel was attacked, perhaps this is completely forgotten. It all started, regardless of judgments and how it’s developing, on 7 October 2023.”
After Abodi doubled down on this view last week, the Russian embassy in Rome hit back, accusing the minister of “double standards”.
The Italian coaches’ association, Assoallenatori, recently appealed for the Italy-Israel game to be cancelled, calling on UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel from international sporting competitions due to the war in Gaza.
Meanwhile, almost 22,000 people have signed an online petition calling on the FIGC and Abodi to cancel the match.
Photo credit: sbonsi / Shutterstock.com.
