UEFA Cancels Tel Aviv Game
The European decision to cancel an important upcoming soccer match in Israel because of \"safety considerations\" is causing many waves. The UEFA soccer organization decided to cancel until further notice all international competitions in Israel because of the recent surge in Arab terrorist attacks. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres spoke last night with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi regarding the decision and the cancellation of the quarterfinal UEFA Cup match between HaPoel Tel Aviv and AC Milan scheduled for next week in Tel Aviv. Sharon assured Berlusconi that all necessary security measures would be taken to assure the safety of the AC Milan team. Science, Culture and Sport Minister Matan Vilnai is currently on his way to Zurich, Switzerland in an effort to persuade UEFA officials to move the game back to Tel-Aviv. UEFA says the much anticipated match will be played at a neutral site, but a spokesman for Vilnai said, \"HaPoel has earned the right to host next week\'s scheduled match, and Minister Vilnai will do everything he can to bring the game back to Israel.\"
The European decision to cancel an important upcoming soccer match in Israel because of \"safety considerations\" is causing many waves. The UEFA soccer organization decided to cancel until further notice all international competitions in Israel because of the recent surge in Arab terrorist attacks. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres spoke last night with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi regarding the decision and the cancellation of the quarterfinal UEFA Cup match between HaPoel Tel Aviv and AC Milan scheduled for next week in Tel Aviv. Sharon assured Berlusconi that all necessary security measures would be taken to assure the safety of the AC Milan team. Science, Culture and Sport Minister Matan Vilnai is currently on his way to Zurich, Switzerland in an effort to persuade UEFA officials to move the game back to Tel-Aviv. UEFA says the much anticipated match will be played at a neutral site, but a spokesman for Vilnai said, \"HaPoel has earned the right to host next week\'s scheduled match, and Minister Vilnai will do everything he can to bring the game back to Israel.\"