Diumenge, Setembre 10, 2006
El sionisme ataca Andorra (II)
10 Set 2006Bé, publico aquí el que vaig trobant a la xarxa sobre l'incident entre el seleccionador andorrà i un jugador israelià en l'enfrontament d'aquesta setmana de les seleccions israeliana i andorrana durant l'Eurocopa.
InfoEsports (portal català) : El seleccionador d'Andorra diu que "Israel és un país d'assassins"
Télam (agència de notícies argentina): La política se mezcla con el deporte.
Jerusalem Post: (llegir els articles a l'extensió del comentari, doncs al cap d'una setmana passa a ser de pagament en l'edició electrònica del Jerusalme Post)
- IFA and Andorra up in arms over coach's comments
- "Your country is a nation of killers"
- Israel easily beats Andorra in Holand
La Mañana (Lleida) : El encuentro Israel-Andorra causa un incidente diplomático.
Terra (Estat Espanyol) : Jugador dice técnico Andorra aseguro 'Israel es país de asesinos' (quina ortografia per a aquest títol, sic)
Ynetnews (portal hebreu) : Andorra coach: Israel country of murderers
Jerusalem Post
IFA and Andorra up in arms over coach's comments
By ALLON SINAI 8 de setembre del 2006, actualitzat el 9 de setembre del 2006 (segons fonts de la web)
"You're a country of murderers. You're criminals. You fire rockets at civilians and kill children."
This is what Andorra's national soccer team coach, David Rodrigo, allegedly told Israel captain Yossi Benayoun during Wednesday night's Euro 2008 qualification match in the Netherlands - which Israel won 4-1.
The incident occurred in the 31st minute of the match when Benayoun was preparing to take a throw from the sideline and mocked the Andorran coach - whose team was trailing 2-0 at the time - by putting two fingers up in his direction.
"We are checking the matter and we will file a complaint with UEFA," Israel Football Association media officer Shaul Eisenberg told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday after returning to Israel from the Netherlands.
"I couldn't believe what I heard," Benayoun said after the match. "It was unbearable and it hurt me in particular because of all the recent Israeli victims."
The Israeli captain also said after the match that Andorran player Manolo Jimenez, who had heard his coach's remarks, apologized at the end of the game. "It's an embarrassment, I'm really sorry about those words," he said.
The government of Andorra views the incident "gravely" and the sports minister has sent a letter to the president of the Andorra Football Federation, instructing him to carry out a full investigation of the affair, a government spokesperson told the Post by phone.
The Andorran government learned of the affair after reading about it on jpost.com, The Jerusalem Post's Web site.
The spokesperson strongly condemned the "insulting remarks" by Rodrigo and added that should the sports minister's investigation conclude that Rodrigo did make the remarks to the Israeli player, is "likely [that] disciplinary action would follow."
Andorra's minister of foreign affairs has contacted Israel's ambassador to Spain, who also serves as Israel's representative to Andorra, and relayed the government's feelings on the matter. "The government of Andorra totally disassociates itself from this, and we condemn these insulting remarks," the government spokesperson told the Post.
"There is no room in sports for the expression of political opinions," said Israel coach Dror Kashtan. "The authorities should take care of things like this and this man should be called into order. He should keep his political opinions to himself."
Amir Mizroch contributed to this report.
Sep. 7, 2006 11:47 | Updated Sep. 7, 2006 19:27
'Your country is a nation of killers'By AMIR MIZROCH AND JPOST.COM STAFF
"Your country is a nation of killers and all the time there are only wars there," Andorra national soccer coach David Rodrigo allegedly told Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun during Wednesday night's Euro 2008 qualification game in Holland, in which Israel won 4-1.
Benayoun claimed that when he confronted Rodrigo over the comments, the Andorran coach snapped, "shut up! We are going go break you and break your legs."
When Israel took a 2-0 lead in the first half of the game, Benayoun mocked the coach, putting two fingers up in his direction. The referee saw the gesture and promptly booked the Israeli playmaker.
Benayoun said that one of the Andorran players, Juli Fernandez, who scored a late consolation goal for his team, apologized on behalf of Rodrigo telling Benayoun, "I'm sorry for what my coach said." Benayoun also said that at the game's conclusion the referee approached him saying," I am sorry for booking you. It pains me to hear things like that from an international coach."
The government of Andorra views the incident "gravely" and the Sports Minister has sent a letter to the President of the Andorran Soccer Federation, instructing him to carry out a full investigation of the affair, a government spokesperson told the Post by phone.
The Andorran government learned of the affair after reading about it on the Jerusalem Post website. The spokesperson strongly condemned the "insulting remarks" by the Andorran soccer coach David Rodrigo and added that should the Sports Minister's investigation conclude that Rodrigo did make the remarks to the Israeli player, that "likely disciplinary action would follow."
Andorra's Minister of Foreign Affairs has contacted Israel's ambassador to Spain, who also serves as Israel's representative to Andorra, and relayed the government's feelings on the matter. "The government of Andorra totally disassociates itself from this, and we condemn these insulting remarks," the government spokesperson told the Post.
A member of the Andorran Jewish community told the Post by phone that she was shocked at the outburst, but not totally surprised. "By his name, I see that the soccer coach is Spanish, not Andorran. He is like that because in Spain there is anti-Semitism. He is stupid for saying that in public," the community member said.
The Andorran Jewish community numbers about 70 people, originating mostly from Tangiers and Spain.
Chairman of the Israeli Football Association, Itche Menachem, said that the subject would be dealt with. "This is a very serious issue, and I will send a strong letter to UEFA on the matter," said Menachem. "There is no place in sport for comments like these from a national team's coach," he continued.
Sep. 7, 2006 6:23 | Updated Sep. 7, 2006 6:25
Israel easily beats Andorra in Holland
By ALLON SINAI
Israel brushed aside Andorra in its second Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday night defeating the European minnows 4-1 in Nijmegen, Holland.
The Israelis scored two goals in the first 11 minutes of its "home" match and had no trouble holding on to its lead against the weakest team in the group.
The win was Israel's second in five days after the team defeated Estonia 1-0 in Tallinn on Saturday night.
"We expected to take six points in our first two games," Israel captain Yossi Benayoun said after the match. "We were prepared and knew that they would concentrate on defending. We hoped to score quick goals and gladly it happened. Now we can rest ahead of the game against Russia."
Israel's next match will be an entirely different proposition with the team traveling to Moscow to play Russia on October 7.
The Russians are certain to give Israel a far sterner test then the Estonians or Andorrans and the blue-and-white will need to improve their play appropriately.
Israel began the match on Wednesday night with one change in its starting lineup from Saturday. Amit Ben Shushan replacing Betar Jerusalem teammate Michael Zandberg.
Ben Shushan was Israel's most impressive player on the field, scoring once and assisting once in his first international start.
"It's great to start my international career this way," Ben Shushan said after the match. "We scored a lot of goals and did our job. The Andorrans only came to defend and it made life difficult."
Israel knew the importance of scoring an early goal and wasted no time in grabbing the lead. Nine minutes into the match Benayoun scored his 13th international goal after Idan Tal crossed the ball from the left flank and the West Ham United midfielder headed the ball over the Andorran defense and goalkeeper.
Two minutes later Israel had already doubled its lead. Omri Afek found Ben Shushan in the center of the Andorran box and the young forward made no mistake, shooting beyond the visitor's keeper.
Andorra, which lost all of its previous 19 European championship qualifiers, was content on defending even after going two goals down and was more interested in damage control then in working its way back into the match.
In the 38th minute Ben Shushan almost scored his second of the match when his cross was making its way into the net only for the Andorran keeper to tip the ball over the bar.
Five minutes later Shimon Gershon scored Israel's third from a penalty kick after an Andorran defender handled the ball in the box.
The second half was similar to the first with Israel in total control of the match. Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim almost scored with a header in the 52nd minute and 10 minutes later Benayoun came close with a shot from the edge of the area.
Israel finally got its fourth goal of the match in the 69th minute. Debutant Toto Tamuz scored seven minutes after coming on as a substitute with a powerful shot from outside the box.
Andorra, which had Fernando Silva sent off in the 78th minute after elbowing Roberto Colautti, scored its consolation goal six minutes from the final whistle. Juli Fernandez took his chance and beat keeper Dudu Awat and improved his teams' goal difference to 5-73 in 20 European qualifiers.
Russia 0, Croatia 0
Israel's next two opponent's in Group E, Russia and Croatia, played out a scoreless draw in Moscow on Wednesday.
In Guus Hiddink's first competitive game as Russia's coach, Croatia dominated the match in front of 29,000 fans at a wet Lokomotiv stadium despite missing three players.
England 1, Macedonia 0
England joined Israel at the top of Group E after beating Macedonia by a single Peter Crouch goal in Skopje on Wednesday night.
