Argentina was set to play their last international friendly before the FIFA World Cup against Isreal on Tuesday. But as things stand the Israel vs Argentina game has been cancelled.
The game was scheduled to be played in Jerusalem but it has been called off due to security threats towards Barcelona man Lionel Messi.
The Israeli Embassy has confirmed via a statement that the Israel vs Argentina game has been cancelled.
“The Israeli embassy is sad to announce the suspension of the match between the Israel and Argentina national teams scheduled for Saturday, June 9, as a warm-up for the Russia World Cup,
“The threats and provocations directed at Lionel Messi, which logically aroused the solidarity of his colleagues and fear of playing the friendly, are no strangers to the daily life of Israel’s civilian population whose sporting stars, to put it simply, have been on numerous occasions the targets of violence and attacks.
“The friendship between Argentina and Israel, which will soon celebrate its 70th anniversary, is not about a football match. The democratic country and plural state (composed of Jews, Muslims and Christians), will always eagerly await the chance to receive one of the stars of the Argentine sport.”
Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain also confirmed the news that the Israel vs Argentina game has been cancelled because the players’ security is the top priority.
Argentina will now play their next game directly in the Group stages of the FIFA World Cup where they will take on Iceland on June 16th.
