Egypt soccer boss: I'd rather starve than coach Israelis

Cliché of the year...Wow!!! This coach reveals he is good at soccer, but bad at elementary education. Sports and politics can mix, but not sports and stupidity. I hope he makes a ton of money coaching, and that he spends it on basic education, like reading, writing, and thinking.

when the israelis PROVOKE us by asking this question then they should expect an answer like this...u people knew 1000000% that this will NEVER happen during this time..so why the hell did u bother yrselves and asked about it?!!!just to provoke us!!!

This made my day!!!! Way to go Shehata. The ironic part is that there are more criticisms against Israel then for it.. ahhh the world is waking up!

Well said Shehata, We admire you!

Thats a very normal response from a guy that most of egyptians are inspired with him But we have to mention that Shehata can create the champions spirit with the egyptians as he is radically an egyptian & he ll not make it with any other national teams as he will not be able to create this spirit inside himself before transferring it to his players NB: All arabs are considering Israel as an enemy but their governments cannot deal the same way as they cannot risk their own benefits Shehata has done it without thinking of his benefits to teach his nation a new lesson "HOW TO KEEP UR VALUES" thats why he doesn't deserve the "TEACHER" title but they can call him "GOOD TEACHER"

"this is the first time I have heard that Israel plays soccer," he said. A comment showing his understanding of the world,worthy of Islamists and their Republican cheer squad.

Ok, may they play. This year one team wins, next year another. It won't be for the World Cup the next years, won't it? Or did I miss so much? And even if for the World Cup - Europe and Southern America will survive that...

I can't imagine an Israeli coach saying the same about Egypt. It's really unfortunate, all a result of this major chip on the Arab shoulder, which won't go away any time soon. Israel should focus on improving relations with more civilized Muslim countries (Turkey, Central Asia, and perhaps in the future Iran, whose educated elites are actually quite reasonable). Arab states like Saudia and Egypt are fairly primitive countries and there's not much chance of countering the propaganda there and having any kind of dialogue with them.

In your opinion, Israel has to sit back and absorb knock after knock and show no reaction. Unfortunately, life doesn't work like that because human nature requires response to baseless, ignorant hatred. It's not really a surprise to hear that the confessing Israel-haters out there believe that they have the right to bash Israel as much as they like while denying Israel the right to respond.

This is inaccurate info. This writer Jack Khoury is a typical Christian Arab spreading b.s. stories to please Israeli audiences. Mr. Shehata said, "...had Israel been a nation in Argentina with the Sephardic people in control, I would have CONSIDERED coaching them. But, as a cancer in Arabia, I would rather starve!"

He's found an occupation that doesn't need intelligence. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

they don't see a connection.. Let Egyptian starve rather than owe anything to Israel,their sentiments exactly ,but "what has it to do with Ireland in case she is stricken by famine..."

Hassan, I guess you didn't get the job!

So he doesn't like Isreal. In fact he hates Isreal. So what. Everyone here posting how hatred is wrong, how he is a racist or whatever, look at yourself in the mirror. Do you like Egypt? Do you like Muslims? Lets get real here hypocrites. So he doesn't like Isreal and has nothing nice to say about them. Guess what neither do I. But neither him or I or gonna attack Jews or Isreal. Neither of us are gonna strap on a suicide vest and try to murder Isrealis or Jews. Is there a new cologne called Contradiction or something. Just asking cause it reeks like contradiction in here.

Well said, Millions agree with you. How can you coach a nation that implements a system of apartheid.

Why would Israel want a close minded coach with no European experience, one that couldn't qualify Egypt for the world cup out of a group that had: -Algeria -Zambia -Rwanda Israel faces Croatia and Greece in their Euro 2012 qualifying group, if he couldn't defeat Rwanda & Algeria how is supposed to defeat Greece and Croatia??? Israel needs a European coach, one with experience and overall knowledge of the game. Not some small minded bigot who's never achieved anything outside of his backyard!

"Ireland sent a group of catholic nuns to preach to survivors" Firstly what has this got to do with the topic. Secondly what are you smoking?? Ireland sent financial aid, hundreds of tonnes of emergency supplies, its Rapid Response Corps, the Irish Aid technical team and a specialist emergency team to help in the aftermath. Wipe the foam from your lips and try to at least pretend you're sane.

what a shame.

What does potato famine, Ireland, nuns and Haiti have to do with the subject here? Stick to the topic!

"Who on earth wants someone like this in Israel?" Don't worry, Fredy, it's not an option. The coach made it crystal clear that he'd never set foot in Israel...

This man is my hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

but I guess what would one expect from a "football coach". It is not like he is a brain surgeon all he has to remember which foot is left and which one is right...

What peace treaties Leo? what is the coach expressed is the feelings of most of what the masses in Egypt and Jordan feel about Israel. These treaties were signed by dictators who don't represent or work according to the interest of their people. Until Palestinians get their rights, no treat should be signed with Israel. Islam is not based on hatred, this is your narrow visian. Asked your self is it the Israel's oppressian of Palestinians and the west occupation of Muslim lands is the reason.

Israel doesn't play any "anti-semitism card", it's the Asian/Arab teams who refuse to play. Israel could stay in the regional group and get a bye all the way to the final and beyond!

Egypt is so proud of its Soccer Accomplishments but they, like the rest of the Moslem World, did nothing to help Haiti recover from its massive disaster. What system of measurment should the World use to judge the contribution of the Islamic Countries to the common good. Do they contribute to the Arts & Sciences? Disaster Recovery? No, but give them a Soccer Ball and pair of Explosive Underwear and they proclaim themselves Royalty. This Egyptian Soccer Coach represents the Medievil thinking that keeps the entire Islamic World stuck in failure. So, he would "rather starve." Somebody should tell this fool that he already is.

Imagine if we were still at war! And this is sport. An apolitical field.

For your information Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco or Algeria would probably beat Israel !

Who on earth wants someone like this in Israel?

the teacher scores on a penalty kick.

em ,they'd rather starve to death than accept Israeli help. Btw,Israel sent a field hospital and the most effective group of doctors to Haiti ,Ireland sent a group of Catholic nuns to preach to survivors

Yes, a wonderful teacher indeed. We will sit on the sidelines envious of Egypt's latest berth to the FIFA World Cup . . . . oh wait, Egypt isn't going to the world cup, they got slammed by Algeria of all teams, and are sitting on the sidelines crying in their coffee while their countrymen trash the capital in rage at the loss. . . or was it rioting in Algeria and trashing their country. No matter. The fact remains that Israel has held its own in a more challenging prelim tournament, coming within a point or two of the World Cup tournament. Dare the Arab world put Israel in its regional bracket, and I have a strong feeling that we would see the Israeli national team on the world stage far more often than we have to date. That's of course if the Arab teams were man enough to take the field. Given what we've seen of the previous Iranian competitors, "Honor" is found in running from Israeli sports competitors.

"Israel gets to play in more prestigious tournaments than Egypt"... that is true only because Egypt can't play the "anti-semitism" card... at least, not as well as Israel.

Let's move beyond the idiotic statement(lie)that this is the first time he has heard that Israel plays soccer. Nowhere is there more successful cooperation and unity of purpose between Jews and Palestinians than in Israeli soccer, despite occasional setbacks, mostly when fans of Betar Jlem are involved. But this is the exception and not the rule. If this ranting madman had any integrity, and was not trying to find favor in the eyes of the Egyptian street, he at least would have said only that he has a problem of consiece in coaching Israel. But instead, he has decided to tow the line of the Muslim Brotherhood. Another example of the Erdwan effect. He has no integrity, and is a liar, or maybe just stupid. Sounds like there might be a more suitable candidate at home

Another reason why Israel cannot afford to withdraw from any more land. Its' either ignorance, explained by years of indoctrination or its forced upon the soccer coach by the government of Egypt. Either way, does this sound like peace to you?

... This Egyptian soccer boss would 'rather starve than coach Israelis' - and yet, were it not for the contributions Israel has made to agricultural science, this git would very possibly be starving, indeed. He should eat his words. MV

Only now he knows that Israel has a soccer team? Maybe he should be invited here to get a good look at Israel and maybe his bigoted ideas of the country might change. It has happened to better people!

Just imagine the internal conflict every time one of those fans cherrs for you and you wonder how many Palestinians he/she has murdered or beat up or thrown out of their house etc. Israel needs to be totally isolated as was Apartheid SA. Just takes enough brave dedicated souls to get the ball rolling--no pun intended.

Your hear Zionists on here saying 'we made peace with Egypt and Jordan didn't we?' The trouble is, as this guy shows, that Israel may have peace treaties with the two countries, but they're not hugely valuable unless Israel can find some way to make its neighbours actually like it. It's not an easy task, but the current government just doesn't seem to care what anybody apart from the US thinks of it. It's the Crusader state strategy. Rely on foreign friends and western military superiority, while failing to make links, friendships and marrages with the locals. The Crusader states lasted a couple of centuries. Israel's lasted a bit over 60 so far. The Arabs know their history. They know all this.

not honesty.

Now, realistically: how such a provocative question should be answered?! It closes more doors to any gradual "cross-border" exchange than it opens. The way to Hell is full of good intentions. And, god, do we always put our feet in our BIIIIIG mouth.

If Ireland is ever looking a new manager this guy gets my vote.

We all know the education his audience receives. That is the greatest problem. These people prefer to die than accept Israel. Israel gets to play in more prestigious tournaments than Egypt. There is little to be jealous of.

Good for you coach!!

Israel since 1967 has been losing one of her biggest wars,that is the propaganda war,this guy has an audience of 10s of millions of Egyptians and others and he airs his racist views for all the world to here. The arab hate propaganda has attracted the non thinkers of our world,they all repeat the same words like a bunch of squarking parrots. Mr Egyptian soccer boss "starve" who cares.

Now if only the other Arabs had the same sense of patriotism and courage then Israel would never have been able to do the horrific things it has done so far

Despite them, the end result is that Israel's existence is still not tolerated by the masses...and this is religion based hatred which will be virtually impossible to change...