Top footballers unite over Gaza

Didier Drogba Paris - Arabstoday Didier Drogba is among dozens of footballers who have written to UEFA in protest at their decision to award Israel the under-21 European championships next year. In a letter to European football's governing body, the players claimed that allowing Israel to host the competition would condone its recent offensive against Gaza. Stars from the English, French, Italian and Spanish leagues said they expressed solidarity with Gazans who were "living under siege and denied basic human dignity and freedom." Among the signatories were five Newcastle United players including Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse and Yohan Cabaye. Former Chelsea striker Drogba was joined by current Blues midfielder Eden Hazard. The letter, which was made public on the internet also highlighted the Israeli bombardment of a football stadium in Gaza on November 10 which killed four teenagers. "It is unacceptable that children are killed while they play football. Israel hosting the UEFA Under-21 European Championship, in these circumstances, will be seen as a reward for actions that are contrary to sporting values." The players called on the international community to protect Palestinian people, adding "we hope that a just settlement will finally emerge." Around 175 Palestinians were killed in Israel's recent bombardment of Gaza, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. The under-21 championships will be held in Israel from June 5 to 18. The Palestine Football Association has written to UEFA president Michel Platini, urging him to move the competition elsewhere. The letter to UEFA was signed by the following players: Gael Angoula, Bastia Sporting Club (France) - Karim Ait-Fana, Montpellier HSC (France) - André Ayew, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Jordan Ayew, - Olympique de Marseille (France) - Demba Ba, Newcastle United (UK) - Abdoulaye Baldé, AC Lumezzane (Italia) - Chahir Belghazouani, AC Ajaccio (France) - Leon Best, Blackburn Rovers Football Club (UK) - Ryad Boudebouz, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France) - Yacine Brahimi, Granada Football Club (Spain) - Jonathan Bru, Melbourne Victory (Australia) - Yohan Cabaye, Newcastle United (UK) - Aatif Chahechouche, Sivasspor Kulübü (Turkey) - Pascal Chimbonda, Doncaster Rovers Football Club (UK) - Papiss Cissé, Newcastle United (UK) - Omar Daf, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France) - Issiar Dia, Lekhwiya (Qatar) - Abou Diaby, Arsenal Football Club (UK) - Alou Diarra, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Soulaymane Diawara, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Samba Diakité, Queens Park Rangers (UK) - Pape Diop, West Ham United (UK) - Abdoulaye Doucouré, Stade Rennais Football Club (France) - Didier Drogba, Shanghaï Shenhua (China) - Ibrahim Duplus, Football Club Sochaux Montbéliard (France) - Soudani El-Arabi Hilal, Vitoria Sport Club Guimares (Portugal) - Jires Kembo Ekoko, Al Ain Football Club (United Arab Emirates) - Nathan Ellington, Ipswich Town Football Club (UK) - Rod Fanni, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Doudou Jacques Faty, Sivassport Kulübü (Turkey) - Ricardo Faty, AC Ajaccio (France) - Chris Gadi, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Remi Gomis, FC Valenciennes (France) - Florent Hanin, SC Braga (Portugal) - Eden Hazard, Chelsea Football Club (UK) - Charles Kaboré, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Diomansy Kamara, Eskisehispor Kulübü (Turkey) - Frédéric Kanouté, Beijin Guoan (China) - Anthony Le Tallec, AJ Auxerre (France) - Djamal Mahamat, Sporting Braga (Portugal) - Steve Mandanda, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Kader Manganne, Al Hilal Riyad Football Club (Saudi Arabia) - Sylvain Marveaux, Newcastle United (UK) - Nicolas Maurice-Belay, FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France) - Cheikh M’bengué, Toulouse Football Club (France) - Jérémy Menez, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France) - Arnold Mvuemba, Olympique Lyonnais (France) - Laurent Nardol, Chartres Football Club (France) - Mahamadou N’diaye, Vitoria Sport Club Guimares (Portugal) - Mamadou Niang, Al-Sadd SC (Qatar) - Mbaye Niang, SM Caen (France) - Fabrice Numeric, FK Slovan Duslo Sala (Slovakia) - Billel Omrani, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Lamine Sané, FC Girondins de Bordeaux (France) - Mamady Sidibé, Stoke City Football Club (UK) - Momo Sissoko, Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (France) - Cheikh Tioté, Newcastle United (UK) - AdamaTraoré, Melbourne Victory (Australia) - Armand Traoré, Queen Park Rangers FC (UK) - Djimi Traore, Olympique de Marseille (France) - Moussa Sow, Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü (Turkey) - Hassan Yebda, Granada Football Club (Spain)