Israeli anthem plays in Saudi at FIFA video game cup rehearsal, but not at ceremony
Israeli team sings Hatikva, holds flag at game tournament, but Riyadh hosts prevent repetition at actual opening event
Gianluca Pacchiani is the Arab affairs reporter for The Times of Israel
The Israeli national anthem “Hatikva” was played this week at a rehearsal for the opening ceremony for the video game version of the FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia, but the Saudis reportedly prevented the anthem from being played during the ceremony itself.
At the general rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the FIFAe World Cup finals, the three gamers from Israel were filmed singing the national anthem and holding the Israeli flag.
But according to Kan news, the Saudis decided at the last moment not to broadcast teams with their anthems, and also refused to hand over a recording of the rehearsal to the Israeli delegation.
Still, a video filmed by one of the delegation members made it online.
The three gamers landed in Saudi Arabia on Friday to take part in the video game version of the FIFA World Cup, hosted in its capital Riyadh.
Although Israel and Saudi Arabia don’t have official relations, Israeli journalists, businessmen, and other figures have increasingly been allowed to visit the Islamic kingdom in recent years.
נבחרת ה-eFootball של ישראל שרה את ההמנון ומניפה את הדגל בריאד, בירת סעודיה. הערב יחל שלב הבתים של טורניר הגמר@kaisos1987 pic.twitter.com/CrkGKrdRWQ
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) July 11, 2023
Three team members, their trainer and the deputy manager entered the country via the United Arab Emirates on their Israeli passports for the event, which will run from July 16-19, according to media reports.
Zvika Kosman, manager of the team, told Kan news that he worked with FIFA to ensure the Saudis would allow the team into the country.
Kosman said Saudi authorities penned a letter stressing all participants would be allowed in the country, without specifying Israelis.
He stated that there was no direct contact between the Israeli and Saudi governments and that messages were passed along by FIFA.
Kan reported that security for the team will be handled by local authorities and a private entity, and not by Israel.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
