2024-01-29 13:54:12
The round of 16 in the Asian Cup gave birth to what can be called in our districts the “meeting of terror”. The national teams of Qatar and Palestine will play against each other this evening (Monday) in Doha for the ticket to the quarter-finals, after Palestine achieved its first victory in its history in the Asian Cup and invited a confrontation with the reigning continental champion, from the country that finances Hamas. Before the game, the president of the Palestinian Federation, Jibril Rajoub, was interviewed by “Al Jazeera” and continued the trend of rapprochement when he mentioned the war.
“We in the Palestinian football family believe that the game can provide a showcase for the suffering experienced by the Palestinian people, and emphasize the determination and commitment to achieving the goals,” he said. “The team’s success in the background of the terrible situation, when thousands of people are buried as a result of the destruction, the atrocities and the genocide, gives our players motivation to achieve something for the people.”
Rajov continued: “It was not easy for the team to prepare for the tournament. We have many players in Gaza who could not join, but we will not give up. They are trying to strangle and expel everyone from the West Bank, but we are there and we will remain there. We are united despite the political and geographical divide in Palestine. The national team is the only thing that is functioning right now.”
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FIFA previously suspended Rajoub for a year, after he called for Leo Messi’s shirts to be burned because the Argentina national team intended to come to Israel to play against Israel. Now, the Palestinian public figure has come out against FIFA: “There is a policy of double standards there. They and the Olympic Committee The internationals should be consistent. The Israeli association is holding games in occupied Palestine, which is a blatant violation of FIFA rules and the Olympic Charter. I have not heard a sports organization in Israel criticizing their government for the attacks, destruction and murder of the Palestinian players. I hope they understand that it is time to pull out a red card for Israel, Israel has no right to rob others of the rights it itself enjoys.”
He also said about the team: “The war definitely affects the concentration of the players and worries them. It is a tragedy, but we do not intend to surrender. We are all affected psychologically and physically, but we will continue to fight. Sport is part of our revival and our duty to our people. Qatar? We are the strongest team in the world “.
The defender Yasser Hamed also spoke before the round of 16: “It is very difficult to stay focused, I have family in Gaza and they are moving to another place to stay safe. Many players have lost their families. I try to avoid reading about everything that happened every day. We have a lot of time here In the hotel and my head is filled with everything that is happening in Gaza, we are constantly checking what the situation is there, but it is important for us to win games and make the Palestinian people happy a little. It will be difficult to reach the quarterfinals, but it is not impossible.”
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