After some hysterical babies in the Arab world cried and whinged about the display of an Israeli flag during celebrations of Ghana's 2-0 victory over the Czech Republic the Ghana FA has apologised.
| "It was an action out of naivete, and we apologize to anyone who was offended. It will never happen again," Ghana FA spokesman Randy Abbey said. "He was obviously unaware of the implications of what he did ... He's extremely popular in Israel, and he wanted to thank the fans who traveled to see him play." Abbey said that there had been complaints to the Ghana FA but did not elaborate. "We're not here for politics," he said. "We don't support Israel or Arab nations ... It was unfortunate that the player was ignorant about the political situation." Abbey added: "But he has apologized to us and I think the matter should end there." |
Anyone think that those complaints were polite?
I find the apology disgusting. The Ghanaians are capitulating to Arab pressure.
It was truly a remarkable thing John Paintsil did. He showed the world that the Jewish State is not the xenophobic racist entity its enemies claim. In Orwellian terms this was truly a revolutionary act.
But more importantly he rekindled in Jews, the kind of pride that they once unanimously felt about Israel. He has made many of us believe that Israel (warts and all) can be a light unto the nations. No apology, can take away the significance of what he has done.
Posted by: Mike | June 20, 2006 at 14:03
Saddens me that anyone should have to apologise. If Israel had qualified for the finals, would they also need to keep their own flag under wraps? I'm insulted by Iran's flag yet it flies over Germany, in an official capacity, in all its glory!...where's the apology?....it's not an issue of a flag - it comes down to the right of Israel to exist and how it's mere existence, and reminder thereof, is fundamentally apposed by the arabs
Posted by: Antony | June 20, 2006 at 14:30
He also showed the world that you can come to Israel as a foreigner and be happy there.
That's how desperate we have become. So desperate for the rest of the world to realise that we can be quite normal.
We have a feeling that the whole world thinks that things like that can't be done in Israel.
"An African plays his pro football in Israel????? And he likes it there????"
Nigerian star Ayegbeni Yakubu also played pro football in Israel before his move to the English Premiership. Yakubu is one of the Premierships top strikers.
People are surprised about that when its really as normal as an African playing his pro Football in small European countries like Sweden.
Posted by: Steve | June 20, 2006 at 14:33