Saudi Arabia’s football team played Palestine in the
Israeli-occupied West Bank for the first time Tuesday, having previously
refused to enter the territory as part of its boycott of Israel. The two met in
a qualifier for the 2022 World Cup at the Palestinian national stadium in
Al-Ram, playing out a 0-0 draw, reported Asharq Al Awsat. Cheered on by a
packed and vociferous home stadium, Palestine frustrated their guests and came
close multiple times, but neither side was ultimately able to make the
breakthrough. With significant excitement over the match, all
tickets at the 8,000 stadium were given away free on the day, with thousands in
often disorderly queues to get in.
Hundreds of others watched from windows
or roofs of buildings overlooking the stadium, which is only a few meters from
the Israeli barrier that cuts off the West Bank from Jerusalem.
Arab clubs and national teams have historically
refused to play in the Palestinian territory — occupied by Israel since 1967
— as it requires obtaining entry permits from Israel, a country most of them
do not recognize. The Palestinian
football association described the Saudi team’s arrival in the Palestinian
territories as a “win-win” situation. Lebanon, Syria
and Egypt still refuse to play in the Palestinian territories. But other
countries such as Bahrain, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Oman have sent
their clubs and teams to play in the West Bank. At the
stadium, large Palestinian and Saudi flags had been erected on the building
behind it.
There were no Saudi fans at the stadium but
pictures of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman were erected alongside Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas and his predecessor Yasser Arafat. The
Palestinians had the first real chance, with striker Saleh Chihadeh hitting the
keeper in the 10th minute. The Saudis could have scored as well in the first half
but Yahya Al-Shehri’s strike was well saved. In a second
half short of chances, Palestinian substitute Khaled Salem flicked a shot over
the bar in the final minutes.
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