Soccer stars protest Gaza bombing

A group of soccer stars have called for “Israel” to be stripped of hosting rights for a top European age-grade tournament next year following last month’s bomb attacks on Gaza.

More than 60 players including Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard, Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba signed a petition which was posted on the website of former English Premier League and Spanish La Liga striker Fredi Kanoute.

“We, as European football players, express our solidarity with the people of Gaza who are living under siege and denied basic human dignity and freedom,” the statement said.

“The latest Israeli bombardment of Gaza, resulting in the death of over a hundred civilians, was yet another stain on the world’s conscience.”

It cited reports of a bomb attack by Israeli forces on a football stadium in Gaza on November 10, which killed four teenage players, and said that two players from the club Al Amari had been detained in Israel “without charge or trial” since February.

“It is unacceptable that children are killed while they play football. Israel hosting the UEFA Under-21 European Championship, in these circumstances, will be seen as a reward for actions that are contrary to sporting values,” the statement said.

“Despite the recent ceasefire, Palestinians are still forced to endure a desperate existence under occupation, they must be protected by the international community. All people have the right to a life of dignity, freedom and security. We hope that a just settlement will finally emerge.”

 

The declaration was Signed by:

Gael Angoula, Bastia Sporting Club (France)

Karim Ait-Fana, Montpellier HSC (France)

André Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Jordan Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Demba Ba, Newcastle United( UK)

Abdoulaye Baldé, AC Lumezzane (Italia)

Chahir Belghazouani, AC Ajaccio (France)

Leon Best, Blackburn Rovers Football Club(UK)

Ryad Boudebouz, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France)

Yacine Brahimi, Granada Football Club (Spain)

Jonathan Bru, Melbourne Victory (Australia)

Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle United (UK)

Aatif Chahechouche, Sivasspor Kulübü (Turkey)

Pascal Chimbonda, Doncaster Rovers Football Club (UK)

Papiss Cissé, Newcastle United (UK)

Omar Daf, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France)

Issiar Dia, Lekhwiya (Qatar)

Abou Diaby, Arsenal Football Club (UK)

Alou Diarra, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Soulaymane Diawara, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Samba Diakité, Queens Park Rangers (UK)

Pape Diop, West Ham United (UK)

Abdoulaye Doucouré, Stade Rennais Football Club (France)

Didier Drogba, Shanghaï Shenhua (China)

Ibrahim Duplus, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France)

Soudani El-Arabi Hilal, Vitoria Sport Club Guimares (Portugall)

Jires Kembo Ekoko, Al Ain Football Club (United Arab Emirates)

Nathan Ellington, Ipswich Town Football Club (UK)

Rod Fanni, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Doudou Jacques Faty, Sivassport Kulübü (Turkey)

Ricardo Faty, AC Ajaccio (France)

Chris Gadi, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Remi Gomis, FC Valenciennes (France)

Florent Hanin, SC Braga (Portugal)

Eden Hazard, Chelsea Football Club (UK)

Charles Kaboré, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Diomansy Kamara, Eskisehispor Kulübü (Turkey)

Frédéric Kanouté, Beijin Guoan (China)

Anthony Le Tallec, AJ Auxerre (France)

Djamal Mahamat, Sporting Braga (Portugal)

Steve Mandanda, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Kader Manganne, Al Hilal Riyad Football Club (Saudi Arabia)

Sylvain Marveaux, Newcastle United (UK)

Nicolas Maurice-Belay, FC Girondins de Bordeaux(France)

Cheikh M’bengué, Toulouse Football Club (France)

Jérémy Menez, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France)

Arnold Mvuemba, Olympique Lyonnais (France)

Laurent Nardol, Chartres Football Club (France)

Mahamadou N’diaye, Vitoria Sport Club Guimares (Portugal)

Mamadou Niang, Al-Sadd SC (Qatar)

Mbaye Niang, SM Caen (France)

Fabrice Numeric, FK Slovan Duslo Sala (Slovakia)

Billel Omrani, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Lamine Sané, FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France)

Mamady Sidibé, Stoke City Football Club (UK)

Momo Sissoko, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France)

Cheikh Tioté, Newcastle United (UK)

AdamaTraoré, Melbourne Victory (Australia)

Armand Traoré, Queen Park Rangers FC (UK)

Djimi Traore, Olympique de Marseille (France)

Moussa Sow, Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü (Turkey)

Hassan Yebda, Granada Football Club (Spain)