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BESIKTAS, MACCABI TEL AVIV SET FOR HIGH-TENSION MEETING
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 14 2011
Turkey
After much debate and calls for relocation, Beşiktaş and Maccabi
Tel Aviv will finally be on the pitch to play amid high diplomatic
tension between Turkey and Israel
Beşiktaş supporters raise their hands as 'talons' as a reference to
eagles, the club's symbol, during a league game. AA photo
Both Beşiktaş and Maccabi Tel Aviv will be looking for three points
when they square off in the Europa League on Thursday night, but the
fixture's footballing import has been overshadowed by the escalated
tensions between Turkey and Israel.
The game at Istanbul's İnonu Stadium comes amid deepening tensions
between the two countries after Israel refused to apologize for
a raid on a Gaza-bound ship last year that killed nine activists,
prompting Turkey to expel top Israeli diplomats, cut military ties
with the country and vow to send Navy vessels to escort aid ships to
Gaza in the future.
There were calls to UEFA, European football's governing body, to
reschedule the game at a neutral venue, but the Turkish government
has assured Maccabi of its safety.
Last week Turkish Sports and Youth Minister Suat Kılıc said the match
would be played under the "highest level of [Turkish] hospitality"
and that Israeli players would "safely" return home after the contest.
Broadcaster CNN Turk said about 5,000 officers have been assigned to
police the game and protect Maccabi players and fans.
The Israeli team arrived at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport under tight
security Wednesday with riot police lining an exit at the airport
to form a corridor between the terminal and a team bus. Police also
stopped traffic to allow the bus to travel, the state-run Anatolia
news agency said.
The political context of the game is reminiscent of Turkey's World Cup
qualifying match against Armenia in 2008. Turkish President Abdullah
Gul's trip to Armenia, with which Turkey had no diplomatic relations,
to watch the Armenia-Turkey fixture opened the doors to dialogue
between the two sides for political reconciliation. The visit kicked
off a brief flurry of "football diplomacy" between the two states,
but the thaw did not last long.
Beşiktaş and Maccabi, meanwhile, are attempting to focus on football
rather than politics.
"Politics and football should not be mixed," Maccabi coach Mordehay
Iwanir said, according to Anatolia news agency. "We had no concerns
on arrival in Istanbul. We have no fears here. Football is football,
politics is politics. There could be certain slogans at the stadium
but we have come here to play football."
Similar statements were made at Beşiktaş camp as well.
"As for the tension between Turkey and Israel, we are professionals
and we want nothing but to play football," Portuguese coach Carlos
Carvalhal wrote in a statement on the club's website. "We are not
interested in politics."
Beşiktaş fans group Carşı is known for its political nature, and
often unfurls banners and chants slogans that feature anti-racist,
pacifist and environmentalist sentiments.
About 100 Maccabi fans are expected to be in Istanbul for the game,
while Ynet reported that fans had brought Israeli candy for Beşiktaş
fans as a gesture at the match.
Ukraine's Dynamo Kyiv will meet Stoke City of England in the other
Group E match also on Thursday.
Both games start at 8 p.m.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=besiktas-maccabi-tel-aviv-set-for-high-tension-meeting-2011-09-14
Hurriyet Daily News
Sept 14 2011
Turkey
After much debate and calls for relocation, Beşiktaş and Maccabi
Tel Aviv will finally be on the pitch to play amid high diplomatic
tension between Turkey and Israel
Beşiktaş supporters raise their hands as 'talons' as a reference to
eagles, the club's symbol, during a league game. AA photo
Both Beşiktaş and Maccabi Tel Aviv will be looking for three points
when they square off in the Europa League on Thursday night, but the
fixture's footballing import has been overshadowed by the escalated
tensions between Turkey and Israel.
The game at Istanbul's İnonu Stadium comes amid deepening tensions
between the two countries after Israel refused to apologize for
a raid on a Gaza-bound ship last year that killed nine activists,
prompting Turkey to expel top Israeli diplomats, cut military ties
with the country and vow to send Navy vessels to escort aid ships to
Gaza in the future.
There were calls to UEFA, European football's governing body, to
reschedule the game at a neutral venue, but the Turkish government
has assured Maccabi of its safety.
Last week Turkish Sports and Youth Minister Suat Kılıc said the match
would be played under the "highest level of [Turkish] hospitality"
and that Israeli players would "safely" return home after the contest.
Broadcaster CNN Turk said about 5,000 officers have been assigned to
police the game and protect Maccabi players and fans.
The Israeli team arrived at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport under tight
security Wednesday with riot police lining an exit at the airport
to form a corridor between the terminal and a team bus. Police also
stopped traffic to allow the bus to travel, the state-run Anatolia
news agency said.
The political context of the game is reminiscent of Turkey's World Cup
qualifying match against Armenia in 2008. Turkish President Abdullah
Gul's trip to Armenia, with which Turkey had no diplomatic relations,
to watch the Armenia-Turkey fixture opened the doors to dialogue
between the two sides for political reconciliation. The visit kicked
off a brief flurry of "football diplomacy" between the two states,
but the thaw did not last long.
Beşiktaş and Maccabi, meanwhile, are attempting to focus on football
rather than politics.
"Politics and football should not be mixed," Maccabi coach Mordehay
Iwanir said, according to Anatolia news agency. "We had no concerns
on arrival in Istanbul. We have no fears here. Football is football,
politics is politics. There could be certain slogans at the stadium
but we have come here to play football."
Similar statements were made at Beşiktaş camp as well.
"As for the tension between Turkey and Israel, we are professionals
and we want nothing but to play football," Portuguese coach Carlos
Carvalhal wrote in a statement on the club's website. "We are not
interested in politics."
Beşiktaş fans group Carşı is known for its political nature, and
often unfurls banners and chants slogans that feature anti-racist,
pacifist and environmentalist sentiments.
About 100 Maccabi fans are expected to be in Istanbul for the game,
while Ynet reported that fans had brought Israeli candy for Beşiktaş
fans as a gesture at the match.
Ukraine's Dynamo Kyiv will meet Stoke City of England in the other
Group E match also on Thursday.
Both games start at 8 p.m.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=besiktas-maccabi-tel-aviv-set-for-high-tension-meeting-2011-09-14