President Peres and the President of FC Barcelona, Mr. Sandro Rosell, announced a special football match for peace involving FC Barcelona and Israeli and Palestinians football players

 President Peres:

"Children have heroes like Messi, Xavi and Iniesta to copy. Sport in general, and football in particular, brings down barriers, eliminates racism and teaches us to compete in friendship rather than fight in anger." 

Mr. Sandro Rosell, president of FC Barcelona:

"We know that football is a universal language that should be used to bring people together. FC Barcelona, modestly, wishes to make themselves available in order to contribute to strengthen the bridges of peace and dialogue between the Israeli and Palestinian communities. The best way we can think of to do that is with a ball."

The President of the State of Israel, President Shimon Peres, met this evening with the president of FC Barcelona. President Peres and Mr. Rosell announced a special match for peace involving FC Barcelona and Israeli and Palestinian football players. The two met to discuss the project and then delivered joint statements to the press.

President Peres welcomed Mr. Sandro Rosell and said, "I am the president of the State of Israel, there are many states but there is only one Barca. It is a real pleasure to welcome you here, the President of Barcelona Football Club - a club that made history for us and our children. In Israel, like all over the world, Barcelona has a legion of fans. Children have heroes like Messi, Xavi and Iniesta to copy. The dream of playing in the Camp Nou."        

President Peres continued and said, "Mr. Rosell, I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to launch this project together.  Your club motto is "Mes Que un club"and it's true. Barca is "more than a club." It is a message. A message of togetherness. A message of friendship, a message of caring for the many and the few. A football club is also a school. It is educational; it teaches our children to play together despite their differences. Sport in general, and football in particular, brings down barriers, eliminates racism and teaches us to compete in friendship rather than fight in anger. While winning you know you may lose as well. While losing you don't forget that you will win again."

Addressing the match President Peres said, "Real peace is between people and not just between governments and as our children love Barcelona, so too do children in the Palestinian Authority. Together with you, and with the President of the Palestinian Authority, we will work to stage a special match which hopefully won't be a one-off occasion but part of ongoing cooperation between our children. From here you are travelling to meet with the President Abbas. He is a true leader and a man of peace and I am convinced that the day will come and we shall celebrate together full peace between our two nations, and with you."

The president of FC Barcelona said, " We know that football is a universal language that should be used to bring people together. FC Barcelona, modestly, wishes to make themselves available in order to contribute to the efforts to strengthen the bridges of peace and dialogue between the Israeli and Palestinian communities. The best way we can think of to do that is with a ball."

Mr. Rosell continued and said, "We want to make our team, our players available to take part in a football match with the hope that this game will serve to extend the channels of dialogue within the two communities that will help bring them closer together."

Mr. Rosell announced that he will be travelling to Ramallah and said, "Tomorrow, Friday, we are going to Ramallah to meet his excellency Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority. We would like, with the Palestinian and Israeli leadership, to promote the idea of a football match for peace. We understand that peace will only be possible if we build confidence, respect and understanding between the two peoples. We believe with all our heart that a match involving Barca, with the collaboration of Israelis and Palestinians, can contribute to reestablish those links which are indispensable for people to live together peacefully."

At the end of the statements President Peres and Mr. Rosell exchanged shirts with President Peres receiving an FC Barcelona shirt with his name on the back and Mr. Rosell receiving a shirt with his name on the back from Peres Center for Peace.

Photo Credit: Mark Neyman/GPO