Lebanese football is once again facing the ravages of war, with the Lebanese Federation deciding to suspend all professional leagues.
Barely underway, the 2024-2025 season is already at a standstill. The Federation announced, via a statement on social networks, that all official tournaments would be suspended due to the alarming circumstances facing the country. The second day’s matches, originally scheduled for this weekend, have been postponed until further notice.
This decision follows the tragic loss of a young player from Tyre, victim of the recent Israeli bombardments in southern Lebanon.
Faten Abi Faraj, the Federation’s Director of Media and Communications, told Ici Beyrouth that all sporting activities had been suspended until further notice due to the “precarious security situation”.
A Decision Motivated by Player Safety
Paola Rizk, member of the executive committee and president of Racing Beirut, explained that the suspension was temporary for the time being, but could be extended depending on how the situation develops.
Faced with the intensification of Israeli bombardments in the South and the Bekaa, many clubs have also decided to interrupt their training sessions as a precautionary measure.
A tragic event occurred last Monday: the Nabi Chit stadium was hit by a rocket during Israeli strikes. Although no casualties were reported in this particular incident, it underlines the direct impact of the conflict on sports infrastructures.
Lives Touched by Violence
Violence is not confined to the playing field. Kassem Zein, Nejmeh’s captain, narrowly escaped an Israeli strike when he was close to the scene. On the other hand, 14-year-old Mohammad Kanj, a member of the Tadamon Sour club, tragically lost his life with his father in their village. His death adds to the sad toll of child victims of the conflict.
Hassan Lakkis, director of general relations at Chabab Baalbeck, expressed his support for the suspension, saying that the safety of players and fans must take precedence over all other considerations.
A History of Instability
Lebanese football has often been disrupted by political and security crises. The last major suspension was in 2019. At that time, the October 17, 2019 protest movement and the Covid-19 pandemic took their toll on the soccer season.
The repercussions of the conflict on soccer in Lebanon illustrate how sport can become a mirror of a country’s socio-political realities.
As a result, football fans have to be patient as they wait for the war to end and the guns to fall silent. Today’s wounds will be tomorrow’s lessons; Lebanese soccer will rise again.
