Argentina’s National Soccer Team Ignores BDS Call to Boycott Israel

Argentina’s soccer team rejected calls by an anti-Israel coalition to cancel a “friendly” match against Israel’s national team.

By: United with Israel Staff

Argentina’s national football team has rejected calls by an anti-Israel coalition to cancel a friendly match against Israel’s national football team prior to the World Cup in Russia.

The Argentine Committee of Solidarity with Palestine, comprised of several so-called human rights organizations and the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement, presented a letter to the Argentine Football Association objecting to Argentina’s national team playing in Israel, with references to Palestinian footballers allegedly killed by the IDF.

“Had it not been for the international position of boycotting sporting events and the South African economy, [Nelson] Mandela would have died in prison and South Africa might still be a racist apartheid state today,” the letter sent by the coalition claimed.

Argentina’s TyC Sports on Sunday announced that it would broadcast the match live, while Israel’s Cometc also published details of the match on its website, meaning that the event is still scheduled and that BDS failed to marshal a boycott, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.

The “friendly” match is scheduled for June 9.

This is not the first time Arab and anti-Israel entities have tried and failed to undermine Israel through sports events.

The Palestinians have utilized Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) several times over the past years as a platform for attacking Israel.