UEFA’s Platini meets with protestors against holding tournament in Israel Read more about Platini “thinking about” whether Under 21 tourno will still go ahead in Israel after protest at UEFA HQ 

“To destroy something which has been done for football hurts me personally,” Blatter said. Read more about FIFA boss Sepp Blatter, feeling heat over UEFA U21 in Israel, promises to rebuild bombed Gaza stadium 

Dozens of players from English Premier League and European top division football teams condemn Israeli attack on Gaza. Read more about Premier League footballers condemn attack on Gaza, boosting pressure on UEFA to pull 2013 U21 from Israel 

Israel’s targeting of sports infrastructure in Gaza underscores need for a sporting boycott Read more about After destroying Paralympic HQ and stadium in Gaza, Israel must not host UEFA tournaments 

“I know that the invitation was issued after heavy pressure on FC Barcelona so that it could get out of its dilemma,” Sarsak said. Read more about In interview, Mahmoud Sarsak confirms FC Barcelona Clasico invite, says he won't attend with Shalit 

The father of Palestinian national footballer Mahmoud Sarsak, who is set to be released by Israel on 10 July following a three month hunger strike, has said that it is “unbearable” that Israel will host the tournament “while it routinely arrests, tortures, imprisons and kills Palestinians, including football players, without consequence” Read more about Whitewashing apartheid, European football federation claims Israel tournament "will bring people together"