THE manager of the Palestine national team has revealed he’d love to face CELTIC.
Ehab Abu Jazar says it would be ‘fantastic’ to face the Hoops as he claimed all Palestinians support Celtic.
Ehab Abu Jazar is the Palestine manager[/caption]
Celtic fans have regularly shown support for Palestine[/caption]
Hoops ultras group The Green Brigade regularly fly Palestinian flags and have long been major backers of the Palestinian cause.
Pro-Palestine displays have been seen within their section at several matches, including during the current season.
There’s also a football academy, Lajee Celtic, based in Aida Camp in Palestine.
Now, the manager of the Palestine team has revealed he has his eye on a friendly clash with the Hoops and says it would be ‘special’.
He also says all Palestinians are aware of the support they receive from the stands at Celtic Park.
Ehab Abu Jazar told the Daily Record: “For sure, it would be a fantastic moment if the Palestine national team could play against Celtic.
“At any time possible we would be ready for such a match.
“It would be special for the people of Palestine.”
He continued: “Every Palestinian is aware of the backing from the Celtic fans. All the Palestinians support Celtic.”
One of the players under Jazar’s management is Oday Dabbagh.
He’s become the first Palestinian to play in Scottish football after joining Aberdeen in January.
The 26-year old is on loan from Belgian club Charleroi until the end of the season.
Dabbagh has struck three goals in his five games for the Dons so far and Jazar is enjoying watching his progress.
He said: “We are also supporting them along with Oday at Aberdeen.
“Personally, it is great to see people who really believe in freedom and liberation in Europe.
“We are really proud that our player, Oday, is playing in a country like that, surrounded in a society like that.
“It means so much to me and every other Palestinian.”
A club side playing a national team is, of course, fairly unusual in football terms.
But Celtic HAVE taken on international opposition before.
The Hoops have faced the Republic of Ireland national team on a number of occasions.
Most recently, Celtic faced Martin O’Neill’s Republic of Ireland side at Parkhead in 2018 for Scott Brown’s testimonial match.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scott Brown testmionial (2018) – Ireland managed by M’ON
Pat Bonners testimonial (1997)
Mick McCarthy testimonial (1996)
