DEBRECEN, Hungary — The coach of Israel’s national soccer team says he is “standing behind my country” amid calls for the team to be suspended from international competition because of the war in Gaza, adding that “we are in a very complicated situation.”
Israel “hosts” Italy in neutral Hungary in a World Cup qualifier today, and the Italian Soccer Coaches’ Association said last month that it had written a formal letter calling for Israel to be suspended.
“We have a super morale and amazing country,” Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon says. “I trust my people. We are trusting our army and soldiers. And I’m standing behind my country.”
Ben-Shimon adds that he wasn’t paying attention to the criticism “in front of me,” because “I’m looking who is standing behind me, and this is our people. We are playing for them, to make them joyful, to make them a few moments of happy.”
Israel’s players were to wear black armbands for the game, UEFA confirms, after Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem this morning. Six people were killed and another 11 were wounded in the attack.
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