Israel football matches cancelled over Gaza offensive

AFP - 6 January 2009 11:55

Smoke trails are seen after a Palestinian rocket was launched from the Gaza Strip into Israel. Israel´s Football Association on Monday cancelled all league matches due to the army´s operation in Gaza and rocket fire against the south of the country.

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israel's Football Association on Monday cancelled all league matches due to the army's operation in Gaza and rocket fire against the south of the country."It would not be appropriate to continue holding the matches while citizens in the south of the country are under the threat of rockets and are living in shelters," the association said in a statement.The FA called off all matches in the different leagues at least for the coming weekend, it said.Israel launched a massive air and ground offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on December 27 in a bid to stem rocket fire.Militants have since fired hundreds of rockets that have struck deeper than ever across the south and centre of the country, placing some one million Israelis within their range.