UEFA president Platini meets with Israel’s Peres to discuss role of soccer in global peace

UEFA president Platini meets with Israel’s Peres

JERUSALEM — The head of European soccer’s governing body believes the sport can play a role in bringing peace to the Middle East.

UEFA president Michel Platini said Tuesday that soccer promotes “peace, tolerance and friendship.” He spoke during a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres, an avid sports fan and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.

Platini recalled a 2006 meeting with Peres in Seville, Spain, where the two men helped put together a team of Israeli and Palestinian players for an exhibition against a Spanish squad. On Tuesday, they discussed how soccer can bridge communities around the world.

Platini also said Israel could host a European-level soccer tournament in the near future. The former France captain said the main obstacles were the quality of local stadiums and security concerns.

“If there will be better stadiums, you will definitely be able to host tournaments in the next few years,” Platini said at a news conference with Israel Football Association chairman Avi Luzon.

Israel has been a UEFA member since 1994 and has hosted a European tournament once — the UEFA under-17 championships in 2000. Israeli teams have begun to advance in European club competitions in recent years, with Maccabi Haifa making its second appearance in the Champions League this season.