Israel began competing in the Asian Football Confederation AFC in despite significant opposition from some existing members. Climate change: In dark, dangerous mines, men risk their lives for riches - and add to an environmental nightmare.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. A number of Muslim states refused to play against the new national side, which culminated in the bizarre spectacle of the World Cup qualifying stage for Asia and Africa - won by Israel without playing a single game. FIFA, determined to avoid the embarrassment of a country qualifying for the fledgling international tournament without kicking a ball, arranged a play-off with Wales.
Six years later, Israel hosted and won the AFC Asian Cup, which remains the country's sole international football trophy. However, the achievement was arguably undermined by the pre-tournament withdrawal of 11 of the 16 intended participating countries. An official video history of the competition released by the AFC in January omitted any mention of the tournament. After qualifying for its first and only World Cup in , Israel began a year period in the relative international wilderness when it was excluded from AFC tournaments from A new era dawned after the First World War when Palestine came under a British mandate and games were played between Jewish, Arab and British sides army and police.
New Jewish teams were founded mainly in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and in and relations were fostered with other nations, especially Austria as Hakoah Vienna became the first foreign side to visit the country.
Meanwhile, Israel began to play home and away matches against teams from Austria, Lebanon and Egypt. This gave fresh impetus to football in Palestine. In mid-August , a general meeting was held to lay the groundwork for a national football association and to request affiliation to FIFA. However, a properly organised national league commenced only in , with the participation of nine clubs. Cup games preceded the league championship.
Football was the first sport to flourish in the wake of the War of Independence in , and by October the leagues were again played to a normal schedule. A different demonstration of the fact the State of Israel was alive and kicking was the national team's tour of the United States in September , following the state's creation.
Well, this is nothing new, with Israel competing at the European Championships since , and also competing in other European competitions, such as UEFA football tournaments and the Eurovision Song Contest. But why is it that the country that is not geographically in Europe competes in European tournaments? Prior to this, Israel competed at the Asian Games from to , however, when the Asian Games Federation became the Olympic Council of Asia in , Israel were excluded for political reasons.
This was said to be due to a security risk due to conflict with other Arab nations represented at the Olympic Council of Asia. Israel are now a full member of the European Athletic Association and have competed in the European Championships since they sent three athletes to the event in Split. Ahead of the Championships, Israel had won two golds, a silver and a bronze at the European Championships, but Lonah Chemtai Salpeter has now added another gold to that tally.
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