Protesters come to Barca training ground to ask Messi and Suarez not to play in Israel

A clash between Argentina and Uruguay, that is expected to feature both Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, is scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv, Israel, on November 19.

However, with Israel accused of multiple human right violations, there is always call for the boycott of public events taking place there. This time is no different: a group of activists have gathered near Barcelona training ground on Friday while the team was training there on the late afternoon.

The protestors have asked Messi and Suarez to boycott the friendly in protest against the actions of Israeli authorities and in solidarity with Palestinians.

“You still have time to decide not to go,” the activists shouted outside of Joan Gamper Centre.

“Would you have gone to play in Apartheid South Africa?

“Don’t let them use you to cover up the war crimes of Israel, the match will be close to Gaza where footballers have been intentionally shot in the legs, do you want to be complicit in that?”

The protesters believe that the players have got their message ‘loud and clear’.

This is not the first time the attempt to organize a game featuring Messi in Israel meets a pushback. Argentina national team was scheduled to play a friendly against Israel back in June 2018 in Jerusalem before going to the World Cup. However, after multiple protests, the game has been suspended.

Unconfirmed reports claim that Messi and Mascherano are the ones who pressured the AFA not to go ahead with the Israel game. Messi also publicly expressed his support for the Palestinian cause back in 2014 when he pressed for the violence in the region to come to an end.

It remains to be seen how Argentina and Uruguay football associations will proceed with their decision about the game taking place in Israel.