Palestinians criticize FC Barcelona over possible match with Israeli team - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

Jul 12, 2021

Messi at Wailing Wall in 2013 — Will FC Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi (R) return to Jerusalem this summer? Here, the Catholic player places a piece of paper with wishes in a crack in the Western Wall on Aug. 4, 2013, in Jerusalem. Members of FC Barcelona had traveled to the Middle East to visit Israel and the West Bank as part of a two-day "peace tour." — Photo by Oliver Weiken-Pool/Getty Images

Atletico Madrid's French midfielder Thomas Lemar (R) is marked by Beitar's midfielder Dan Einbinder during the friendly soccer match between Beitar Jerusalem and Atletico Madrid at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem, May 21, 2019.

Israeli soccer club calls off match with Barcelona in Jerusalem

Afif Abu Much

In Baqa al-Gharbiyye, reporting on business and tech

Tohar Butbul of Team Israel and Arthur Margelidon of Team Canada compete during the Men’s Judo 73kg Repechage contest on day three of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Nippon Budokan on July 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Sudanese judoka refuses to face Israeli opponent

Al-Monitor Staff

Al-Monitor Staff

Fans of FC Barcelona cheer as the team leaves the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in Jerusalem's Old City August 4, 2013. The Spanish league champions are making a brief stopover in Israel and the Palestinian territories en-route to a pre-season tour of Asia. REUTERS/Oliver Weiken/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS SPORT RELIGION SOCCER) - RTX12A38

FC Barcelona Teaches Lesson of Coexistence

Shlomi Eldar

A poster of Palestinian FA chief Jibril Rajoub with Argentina's soccer player Lionel Messi is seen during Rajoub's news conference, in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank June 6, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman - RC13B03D01D0

Israeli soccer fans divided over who's to blame for canceled match

Danny Zaken

In Ma'ale HaHamisha, reporting on Israel