The Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry has approached the Egyptian Football Association in order to hold a friendly match between the Israeli national team and the Egyptian national team.
Despite this sporting gesture from the Israelis, the Egyptians have declined it by all accounts.
During the past two weeks, the idea of a friendly match between the national teams and clubs of both countries has arisen, after the Egyptian football association spokesman, Fajar Azmi Mujahed expressed his opinion on the subject on a local radio sports programme in Egypt. "There is no reason not to hold a friendly match between the two countries. In football, we must put politics aside¨. Egyptian officials were quick to deny the statements, but in recent days the issue has come up again.
On Sunday, the Israeli Embassy in Egypt Facebook page posted a photo of an Israeli crowd and asked its 82,000 followers "Is it possible to have this match one day?”. Thousands of angry responses made the Egyptian public’s position on the issue very clear. Nevertheless, the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry decided to act and formally contacted the Egyptian Football Association, in order to examine the possibilities of having such a friendly match between the two countries and promote this sporting gesture.
Egyptian FA spokesman Mujahed told Al-Arabiya this yesterday: "There is no chance. We will not agree to play against an Israeli team or club. Our objection is the final decision since it reflects the position of the Egyptian people on the matter."
The Israeli Foreign Affair Ministry deputy, Mr Alon Lavi, responded exclusively to BabaGol: “Israel sees sports as a way to connect people. These kinds of initiatives enhance the chances of building bridges between countries and peoples. Israel promotes, and will keep promoting, sports initiatives in the future”.
Israel and Egypt last met in the 1934 World Cup Qualifiers. Israel, then Mandatory Palestine, lost twice to Egypt, 7-1 in Cairo, and 4-1 in Tel Aviv. Mahmoud Moukhtar Al-Tetsh, the Egyptian star, scored five goals over this doubleheader.