Soccer: Bachar mix-up overshadows Israel squad announcement

Kashtan names Ironi Kiryat Shmona defender Barak Bachar in squad despite the fact he is not allowed to play before finishing army service.

By ALLON SINAI
Israel soccer 224.88 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Israel soccer 224.88
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
The Israel Football Association found itself in the center of yet another embarrassing episode on Sunday. Despite not being eligible to play for Israel as he has not completed his IDF service, Ironi Kiryat Shmona defender Barak Bachar was named by national team coach Dror Kashtan in his 24-man squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers at Luxembourg and Latvia this coming Saturday and next Wednesday, respectively. The IFA and Kashtan quickly realized they had made a mistake and a mere hour later released Bachar and called up Maccabi Haifa's Eyal Meshumar in his place. Despite leading Maccabi Haifa to the top of the standings with his recent excellent form, striker Yaniv Katan was left out of the Israel squad once more on Sunday. The lack of coordination between the IFA's two top coaches was also exposed on Sunday after Maccabi Netanya's Itai Shechter received a recall to the senior squad, despite being named earlier in the day in the Under-21 team, which will play in Italy in a European Championship playoff this Saturday. The national team, which has four points from its first two qualifiers, will hold its first training session on Monday and will only leave for Luxembourg on Friday due to Yom Kippur.