Israeli FA challenges change of venue

Israeli FA (IFA) chairman Itzhak Menachem has written a strongly-worded letter to UEFA complaining about its decision to make Israeli clubs play their European ties later this month in a neutral country.

The IFA’s general-secretary Haim Zimmer followed up Menachem’s missive with a demand to plead their case in front of UEFA’s Emergency Panel, which is due to sit this morning.

Zimmer has threatened to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if UEFA do not allow them a hearing.

“We are looking into approaching the subject with CAS, but before taking that measure, would like to appear before the panel without involving external bodies,” Zimmer wrote in a letter to Lars-Christer Olsson, the UEFA chief executive, faxed yesterday.

Menachem and Zimmer are furious that UEFA, who last Thursday wrote to the Israeli FA asking for security assurances around Tel Aviv, have changed their tune following Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa’s draw against Liverpool in the Champions League third qualifying round.

“This decision has a clear scent of political interest and implies a bow before pressure imposed by Europe’s big clubs, a surprising fact in light of UEFA’s policy of equality and fair play,” Menachem wrote to Olsson.

Menachem went on to list six key grievances he held against European football’s governing body, starting with why two letters received by the Israeli FA about the subject were from two different officials at UEFA, Giorgio Marchetti, UEFA’s professional football director, and Jacob Erel, director of the national association’s department.

“We want to know which body, committee or person made the decision and under which authority?” asked the IFA chairman who also asked Olsson what has changed in the security situation over the four days since UEFA changed their mind. He invited Olsson to come to Tel Aviv to “get the real impression of the situation and realise that nothing had changed in the security circumstances”.

Menachem was also upset that UEFA asked the Israeli FA at 6pm on Monday evening to come up with alternative venues by a deadline of midday the next day.

“In other words, to provide everything within a time-frame of 18 hours, with most of them the night-time. Does it make any sense?” he said.

He accused UEFA of making life difficult for them on purpose by sending the first letter on Thursday night, knowing that the IFA offices would be closed on the Friday, and the second letter on Monday night, right at the end of the working day.

UEFA are set to make a final ruling on the venue for the Maccabi Haifa game next Monday, but Menachem has urged them to take more time over the decision, as the fixture is not scheduled until August 23.

Menachem has received support from other Israeli clubs who are also in European competition. Hezi Magen, the chairman of Bnei Yehuda, who are drawn to play Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Sofia in the UEFA Cup a week on Thursday, said Israeli clubs should consider pulling out of European competition to make their point.

“Apart from rewarding terrorism, UEFA’s decision lacks all reason” he said.

Maccabi Haifa released a statement which read: “We very much regret UEFA’s decision, and are sorry that they did not see fit to come to Israel before making their decision. Maccabi Haifa is preparing to host the game at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan, and we believe the match will be a festival for Israeli soccer fans in general and Maccabi Haifa fans in particular.”

General secretary Zimmer may yet be disappointed in his efforts to meet the Emergency Panel later today. The panel starts at 9am but, as Zimmer acknowledged in his letter, “our delegation will be boarding the earliest possible flight to Geneva, but could not arrive at your offices before noon”.