Egypt reject Israel friendly football match

The Egyptian Football Association have rejected an offer from their Israeli counterparts to play a friendly football match – branding the idea “unacceptable”.

It’s the second time the Israelis have made the offer – the first being in 2010. An IFA statement read: “The main objective behind the request is to break the barriers between the two countries and to spread a peaceful atmosphere.”

However, saying the idea of playing a match between the two countries is impossible, EFA spokesman Azmy Megahed said: “We will not agree to any matches with the Israel national team or any Israeli clubs.

“The idea of playing against any Israeli [sports clubs] is completely rejected, no matter what. Israel is unacceptable to us because the Egyptian people would never agree to it.”