Berlin – Football: Germany-Israel Friendly Called Off

Berlin – The German Football Federation said Friday that a planned friendly against Israel in March has been called off amid security fears.

The federation, the DFB, said Israel had requested the cancellation of the game.

Israel’s European Championship qualifying game against Belgium, planned for September 8, has been put back to March 25, the planned date of the Germany game, because of the conflict between Israel and Hamas fighters in Gaza.

The DFB said the decision followed “postponements in the calendar that came up because of the development of the conflict in the Middle East and resulting security conditions.”

“It is very sad for us,” commented DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach. “But it was clear we had to answer the request of our Israeli friends.”

He said the game could be rearranged for the second half of 2015.