PM sprains ankle at Arab-Jewish kids soccer game
06/12/2012 02:22
After 5 minutes of game-time, Netanyahu misses swipe at soccer ball, falls; Likud cancels faction meeting following injury.
joint Arab-Jewish soccer game Photo: Moshe Milner GPO
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu tore a ligament in his left leg on Monday
while participating in a joint Arab-Jewish soccer game for children at the
capital’s Kraft Stadium.
Five minutes into the match, Netanyahu fell when
he twisted his ankle while kicking the ball. At first, the prime minister
continued playing and even scored a goal, but when he showed signs of pain his
security guards brought him to Hadassah University Medical Center on Mount
Scopus where his leg was put in a cast. The Likud party canceled its faction
meeting in light of the injury.
“I participated in a youth soccer match
intended to advance tourism in Israel, to present the truce face of the State of
Israel,” the prime minister, 62, was quoted as saying. “This was not exactly
like the Euro soccer games, which I’ll be watching along with many Israelis. But
tomorrow I’ll be back at the Prime Minister’s Office, and I’ll continue playing
on other fields for Israel.”