Italy-Israel World Cup tie faces security concerns amid protests | Football News

Italy host Israel in a World Cup qualifier on October 14, in Udine the place the stadium solely holds 6,000 spectators.

Israel’s World Cup qualifying match in Italy subsequent week is anticipated to draw extra pro-Palestinian protesters outdoors the soccer stadium in Udine than ticket-holding spectators inside the sector.

Protesters already approached the gates of Italy’s training centre in Florence final week to demand that the match not be performed due to the battle in Gaza — a part of a nationwide strike that noticed hundreds of thousands of activists take to the streets.

“It’s not going to be a peaceful atmosphere,” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso acknowledged Tuesday from contained in the Coverciano coaching centre that was focused. “There might be 10,000 folks outdoors the stadium and 5-6,000 contained in the stadium.”

As of Monday, solely 4,000 tickets have been offered for subsequent Tuesday’s match at Stadio Friuli.

Whereas UEFA had been contemplating suspending Israel over the battle and Udine Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni had referred to as for the sport to be postponed, with Italy desperately making an attempt to keep away from failing to qualify for a 3rd consecutive World Cup, the four-time champion workforce doesn’t plan to danger not enjoying.

“Now we have to play this match. As a result of if we don’t, we’ll lose it 3-0,” Gattuso mentioned, referring to the rule for forfeited matches. “[Italian Football Federation] president [Gabriele] Gravina defined that very effectively.”

There was additionally rigidity on the sector between the 2 squads after the ultimate whistle when Italy edged Israel 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller final month in impartial Hungary — the place Israel has been enjoying its “house” matches throughout the battle.

The protesters in Italy and elsewhere have additionally been reacting to a world assist mission blocked by Israeli forces.

“It’s upsetting to see what’s occurring to harmless folks and kids,” Gattuso mentioned. “It hurts your coronary heart.”

Italy and Israel are stage six factors behind group chief Norway, with solely the first-place finisher within the group to qualify instantly for subsequent yr’s event in North America.

The second-place finishers progress to a playoff — the stage the place Italy was eradicated by Sweden and North Macedonia and dominated out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively.

“Contemplating that we’re attempting to get to the World Cup and we have to give our absolute all, I’m certain you may perceive that I’d have most well-liked to play a house sport with the passion that we noticed in Bergamo a month in the past,” Gattuso mentioned, referring to a 5-0 win over Estonia.

Israel may additionally face protests throughout a go to to Norway on Saturday.

The Norwegian soccer federation pledged to provide its income from ticket gross sales for the sport in Oslo to humanitarian work in Gaza by Docs With out Borders (identified by its French acronym, MSF).

Italy performed Israel in Udine final October within the Nations League. That sport went off with out incident amid a heavy police presence and regardless of a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier than the sport. Italy received 4-1.

The Italian Soccer Coaches’ Affiliation (AIAC) wrote to the Italian Football Federation in August, in a letter to be forwarded to European and world soccer’s governing our bodies, calling for Israel to be suspended from worldwide competitors on account of its battle on Gaza.