Argentina cancel football match with Israel

An international football friendly between Argentina and Israel has been cancelled at the request of the Argentine Football Association, striker Gonzalo Higuain said on Tuesday.

The match had been scheduled to play in Jerusalem on Saturday but was called off following political pressure.

"They've finally done the right thing," Argentina's Juventus forward Higuain told ESPN.

The fixture at Teddy Kollek Stadium was expected to be Argentina's last outing before the World Cup in Russia. The Albiceleste will debut in the tournament with a Group D fixture against Iceland in Moscow on June 16.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) welcomed on Wednesday Argentina's decision to cancel a friendly football match that was due to be held with the Israel national football team in Jerusalem on Saturday.

The PFA said in an emailed press statement that it thanks all public and sports associations and establishments in the world "who worked tirelessly and refused to be a tool in the hands of politicians and political blackmail."

The statement said that it greets the famous football star Lionel Messi and the rest of the players "who refused to be a bridge to achieve a non-sporting political goal."

However, Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee said in a press statement that "the Palestinians send their gratitude to Argentina and its football team who backs the principle of international law and rejects the Israeli threats and blackmail."