Israel to host friendly vs Armenia in Tel Aviv

Israel will host an official international fixture at home next week for the first time in almost a year, the IFA said.

The Israelis, who have been barred by European soccer's governing body UEFA from hosting any club or national team matches because of safety concerns, will play Armenia in a friendly international at the National Stadium in Tel Aviv on February 12.

Both the senior and under-21 Armenian squads have agreed to fly to Tel Aviv despite the UEFA ban, the IFA said.

The matches at the 44,000-seat stadium will be the first against a foreign team in Israel since last March when Hapoel Tel Aviv players were caught in the crossfire of an attack on a Tel Aviv restaurant.

None of the players were hurt in the incident in which three people were killed and 19 injured.

The IFA said in statement they would keep ticket prices to between $2-$5 to entice spectators to attend the game. Israelis have not seen their national team in action at home since October 2001.

Club sides involved in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup also had to host their matches on foreign soil.

Maccabi Haifa made Nicosia its base for home Champions League clashes, while Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv played their UEFA Cup fixtures in Sofia and Florence.

Euro qualifiers

Israel will still play their next two Euro 2004 qualifying Group One home matches in Palermo, Sicily. They play France on April 2 and Cyprus on April 30.

The other teams in the group are Slovenia and Malta. Israel coach Avraham Grant will name his squad to face the Armenians next Sunday.