Hamas launch Barca boycott

on 27/09/2012 17:18:11

Hamas is launching a media boycott of Spanish football giants Barcelona after reports the club gave a complimentary ticket to an Israeli soldier formerly held captive by militants in the Gaza Strip.

A Barcelona spokesman confirmed the team had given the ticket to Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Gaza militants in June 2006 and returned home last October under an Israel-Palestinian deal on prisoner exchange.

The spokesman says Barcelona often gives complimentary tickets.

Since his release, Mr Schalit has written a newspaper sports column.

Attallah Abu Al Subah, an official with Hamas, the ruling Islamist party in Gaza, says that, as of today, no TV station in Gaza will broadcast Barcelona matches and no papers in the coastal strip will write about the club.