Security cited for canceling Israel men's soccer exhibition game at Bosnia-Herzegovina next week

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Israel’s soccer friendly at Bosnia-Herzegovina next week was canceled on Friday. UEFA cited the “current security situation” as a reason.

The two men's teams should have played on Tuesday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo after both were eliminated on Thursday in qualifying playoffs for the European Championship.

Israel lost to Iceland 4-1 in a ‘home’ game it had to play in a neutral country because of security concerns during the country’s conflict with Hamas. Israel chose to play in Budapest, Hungary.

The makeup game in Bosnia was part of the UEFA-organized match schedule for national teams and a centralized broadcasting contract the European soccer body’s member federations are obliged to fulfil.