Despite an intensive diplomatic campaign launched by Israel to persuade UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, to reverse its decision, the organization stood by its ruling to have the Hapoel Tel Aviv club play its upcoming quarterfinal matches in a neutral country due to the security situation in Israel. Representatives of the Israeli team are looking into alternative stadiums, with Cyprus being mentioned as the most likely option.

An Israeli delegation, led by Minister of Science, Culture and Sports Matan Vilnai, flew to Switzerland to argue that Israel could guarantee security for the soccer matches, but was unable to convince UEFA to change its position. "We have listened to the [Israeli] delegation and the minister and we haven't heard anything we haven't heard before," said UEFA chief executive Gerhard Aigner.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres

"We will do everything we can to ensure that the game is played in Tel Aviv" - Hapoel Tel Aviv club owner Moshe Teomim

joined forces earlier this week in attempts to convince Italian leaders and the AC Milan club that moving next week's match would mark capitulation to terrorism.

Three days after two Hapoel Tel-Aviv players witnessed a terrorist shooting attack in central Tel Aviv, UEFA announced its decision to suspend all upcoming championship matches in Israel in light of the volatile security situation. The decision, to take effect immediately, would move the scheduled cup match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and AC Milan from the Bloomfield stadium in Tel Aviv to another country.

"I was very upset to hear of the decision," said Yossi Abuksis of Hapoel Tel Aviv, who was present at the Seafood Market restaurant when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire, killing three Israelis and wounding 31 others. Abuksis asked why his team wasn't being allowed to play its soccer match in Bloomfield if Maccabi Tel Aviv's basketball team continued to play at home while terror attacks were taking place.

Aigner wrote to the Israeli Football Association announcing the organization's decision. "In the light of the current tragic events in Israel, no competition matches can be staged in the country until further notice. This was not an easy decision but is, we believe, in the best interests of everyone concerned," he wrote.

The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah organization announced late Thursday afternoon that if UEFA did in fact reverse their decision and the game were to take place in Israel the organization would plan a terrorist attack "in connection to the game."

Italian PM promises to do what he can
Sharon and Peres spoke Wednesday night with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who serves as acting president of AC Milan. Sharon and Peres both personally guaranteed to ensure that the tightest security would be provided to the Italian team during its stay in Israel.

Peres reportedly told Berlusconi, "In soccer, unlike in war, there are no casualties, and if the game goes ahead in Israel, we will guarantee complete security. There are thousands of games in Israel every week and nothing happens."

Berlusconi assured Peres and Sharon that he would do what he could to appeal to UEFA on Israel's behalf. He also made clear that the decision was not made by him, and that the players of the Milan team were prepared to play in Tel Aviv.

UEFA decision hits hard at Israeli sports fans
The decision to move the game from Israel was not well received in the Israeli sports world. After upsetting major competitors like Chelsea and Parma AC, Hapoel Tel Aviv is the first Israeli soccer team ever to reach the quarterfinals of the UEFA cup competition. Similar to the hysteria in Israel when Maccabi Tel Aviv won the European club basketball championships last year, the Hapoel Tel Aviv team has assumed the position as flag-bearer of Israeli sports.

Hapoel Tel Aviv owner, Moshe Teomim, told Israeli media that the decision "harms Israeli sport in general and Hapoel Tel Aviv in particular, exactly at a time when the club is facing its greatest ever challenge.

"We have overcome some mighty teams so far this season, and we have no intention of hoisting a white flag. We will do everything we can to ensure that the game is played in Tel Aviv. We only found out about the decision [Wednesday] afternoon, from the Milan delegation, which was at the airport when they got a call telling them not to fly out here. It seems the big clubs find out first."

In a letter protesting UEFA's decision, Israel Football Association Chairman Gavri Levy wrote: "We protest categorically against the transfer of the game to a neutral venue. By transferring the game from Tel Aviv, you are denying Hapoel the chance of proceeding in the tournament. Your interference and decision will have severe repercussions on the future of Israeli soccer. Therefore, we totally object to the transfer of the game, and insist it will take place [in Israel]."

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