Soccer Diplomacy
We all shuddered at every kick-off, we all went wild at every goal... Above all, this World Cup was historic in that it put the Arab world in the spotlight — the Atlas Lion became the first African team to qualify for the semi-finals, while Saudi Arabia beat Argentina 2-1... The games are over, but the game is far from over. The latest sporting events have chipped away at the politico-religious barriers separating the various nations of the Mediterranean. Athletes from Israel, Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia - and many more besides - now clash on a much more
fertile field than that of the division — the soccer field of fair play.
Pour toutes les cultures le sport est mythique
Sport brings people together far more than it drives them apart. This is borne out by the growing interest in sport in both Arab and Jewish nationalism. As a remedy for weakness, the first Zionist sports clubs in Europe aspired to reconnect with the legendary heroes of Jewish history — Judas Maccabaeus. At the same time, the Arab sports movement of the 1930s also tended to highlight the iconic figures of its own history, such as Saladin. Both peoples unknowingly adopted the same perspective — to show the world that their physical strength was an extension of the myth. This form of hubris can be seen in all of today's competitions, the Olympic Games being the most striking example.
“Sport is a bridge over differences. Above all, we respect each other”
The matches played between the teams do not boil down to pure and simple combat. This is the paradox of sporting tournaments — countries fight to achieve victory, but this struggle implies strict rules, guaranteeing respect for opponents. A pacified war. Shakespeare was the first to refer to this “courteous relationship between warriors” as fair
play (in his play King John). In soccer, this principle is at the heart of the system. During the World Cup, the teams fought a merciless battle, but that didn't stop Morocco coach Walid Regragui from declaring after his players had lost to Les Bleus — “Today, France is the best footballing country in the world”. Another example — back in 2018, even before the signing of the Abraham Agreements, the Israeli Minister of Culture and Sports visited Abu Dhabi, where for the first time, Sagi Muki displayed the colors of the blue and white flag. For this two-time European judoka champion, “sport is a bridge that crosses differences, and above all, we respect each other”. His friendship with his Iranian opponent Saied Mollaeien is proof of this.
Soccer diplomacy
In addition to strengthening ties between nations, soccer diplomacy is also proving its worth internally. In Israel, a third of the men's soccer squad is made up of players from Arab neighborhoods and villages. In 2004, the Arab team from the Ittihad Abna Sakhnin club won the Israel State Cup and represented the country in Europe the following season. In this context, soccer presents itself as a field of possibilities, and the immense opportunities now open to players are the counterpart of a general easing of regional tensions. Diaa Sabia of Hapoel Be'er Sheva, a club renowned for its long history of Iranian judoka Saied Mollaei and his Israeli friend Sagi Muki Credits: TheTimes of Israel cooperation between Jews and Arabs, is the first Israeli footballer of Palestinian origin to play in an Arab league. Nothing is impossible. Soccer diplomacy In addition to strengthening ties between nations, soccer diplomacy is also proving its worth internally. In Israel, a third of the men's soccer squad is made up of players from Arab neighborhoods and villages. In 2004, the Arab team from the Ittihad Abna Sakhnin club won the Israel State Cup and represented the country in Europe the following season. In this context, soccer presents itself as a field of possibilities, and the immense opportunities now open to players are the counterpart of a general easing of regional tensions. Diaa Sabia of Hapoel Be'er Sheva, a club renowned for its long history of cooperation between Jews and Arabs, is the first Israeli footballer of Palestinian origin to play in an Arab league. Nothing is impossible.
Palestine is not sidelined
Although it was unable to take part in this World Cup, Palestine was well and truly present in the stands and on the pitch of the Al-Bayt stadium. Flags bearing its colors were waved by fans and by the Moroccan team. A message — “Join us on the pitch !” This message takes on its full meaning in the light of the Palestine-Saudi Arabia meeting held this autumn in Al Ram, near Jerusalem. While this event marked a rapprochement between the Gulf Kingdom and Israel, for the Palestinians’ coach, the match was above all an opportunity to give his team greater visibility. Beyond the sphere of soccer, Palestine also shone at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Five athletes from the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem excelled in swimming, sprinting and judo.
Iran excluded from all IJF competitions — the ultimate defeat for the Mullahs' regime ?
Credits: Fadel Senna
Sportsmanship is about fair play, respect for others, cultural openness... How does the
Mullahs' Iran fit into this picture? The Shiite government refuses to let its judokas and
those of Israel compete on the same tatami. Threats against its own representative, Saied Mollaei, forced him to leave the Tokyo Olympics. The judoka has since turned his back on his country by joining the Mongolian team. The International Judo Federation reacted immediately with an irrevocable sanction — the Iranian national team is officially excluded from all competitions for four years.
What if sport could put a stop to authoritarianism ? In addition to this punishment imposed by an international association, Iran is now facing the disintegration of its own players. The most memorable image of the 2022 World Cup will undoubtedly be that of the valiant iranian team, defiantly silent when the national anthem is played. At present, this silence is understood as support for the protests raging in the country. This symbolic gesture is followed in several other sports — volleyball, basketball and even beach soccer. This trend echoes the soccer match between Iran and the United States on June 21, 1998. At the height of tensions between the two countries, the Iranian players
took to the field, holding a white rose as a symbol of peace, which they presented to the Americans. This episode shows that the people are never won over by their power, and that footballers are free spirits who know where their real adversary is hiding. Almost twenty years have passed, but the fight remains the same.
Iranians 1, Teheran 0.
Sources :
https://conseilsport.decathlon.fr/dou-vient-lexpression-etre-fair-play
https://www.dw.com/en/what-does-the-israel-uae-normalization-agreement-mean-for-football/a-55051626
https://www.cairn.info/revue-materiaux-pour-l-histoire-de-notre-temps-2012-2-page-47.htm
https://www.sofoot.com/palestine-arabie-saoudite-un-evenement-historique-475405.html
