A final for all time, sacrificed on the altar of the modern game

That is what soccer has become: an entertainment complex squabbled over by fiefs and autocrats, a way of exerting soft power and measuring importance that is worth almost any price, a circus paid for in bread | RORY SMITH

Tens of thousands of River Plate fans who bought tickets for last week’s Copa Libertadores final now will be prevented from seeing it in person | Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

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FIFA suspends Palestinian football chief Jibril Rajoub for ‘inciting violence’

Turning truth on its head, FIFA gives year-long suspension after Mr Rajoub allegedly called on “football fans to target the Argentinian Football Association and burn jerseys of Lionel Messi.”

Palestinian FA chief Jibril Rajoub

The beautiful game: a history of whitewashing international crimes

Nunca Mas “Never Again” Argentina’s Dirty War

By HUSSEIN SAMIH*

(June 8) – In the summer of 1978, at the height of Argentina’s brutal right-wing dictatorship, the 11th FIFA World Cup took place amidst an outcry over granting legitimacy to a state that is now known to have been responsible for the disappearances of around 30,000 people.

Israel demands FIFA ban Argentina from World Cup over ‘religious discrimination’

Comtec Group, a production company in charge of sports-washing the occupied territories, will demand FIFA to ban Argentine due to “religious discrimination.”

A poster of Palestinian FA chief Jibril Rajoub with Argentina’s soccer player Messi is seen during Rajoub’s news conference, in Ramallah, West Bank | Reuters

Argentina cancels Israel ‘friendly’ match

By ALI ABUNIMAH*

Palestinians are celebrating the news that Argentina – and its star Lionel Messi – will not be playing the “friendly” football match that had been set for Jerusalem next weekend.

Argentina’s World Cup warm-up vs. Israel expected to be canceled over Palestinian pressure

Neither side has issued an official announcement yet, but the game is largely expected to be cancelled |Uzi Dann and Noa Landau in Haaretz

Argentina’s Lionel Messi controls the ball during the international friendly soccer match | Ivan Sekretarev/AP

(June 6) – Argentina’s planned soccer exhibition against Israel’s national team slated for Saturday at Jerusalem’s Teddy Kollek Stadium is in danger of being canceled, Argentine media reported. Local reports claim Palestinian pressure is the impetus for the game’s expected cancellation.

A terrific World Cup

THE Brazil World Cup 2014 is over. After 63 matches and 31 days of competition, the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup ended with Germany’s 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday July 13. It was a great final match of the tournament. Overall, we were very happy with how competitive and close a game it was.

Germany won the World Cup for the fourth time in Brazil, 2014.