FA Man’s Israel Mission
By Simon Griver, The Jewish Chronicle, 03/11/2006

With less than five months to England’s Euro 2008 qualifier in Ramat Gan, a senior FA delegation was in Israel this week to sort out the logistics.

The delegation was led by director of corporate affairs Simon Johnson, a member of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue and the UJIA Sports Committee.

He told JC Sport that while many Anglo-Jewish soccer fans were torn over who to support, “I’m behind England. But I will be proud when I hear both national anthems played at Ramat Gan. This is going to be a key fixture in a tight group. I think England will go through but Israel are also capable of reaching the finals.”

Johnson reported that the FA delegates had been looking at hotels and meeting police and Israeli FA leaders. “I expect that the team will fly out on Thursday March 22 and spend the Friday training at Ramat Gan Stadium. The Israel FA have not determined the kick off-time. Obviously it will be after Shabbat so there is a question mark over whether the team will fly home straight after the game, or sleep over in Tel Aviv and make the journey on Sunday.

“We haven’t yet decided on a hotel but it will definitely be in Tel Aviv or Herzliya,” he added. “What we need are two hotels close together. One for the 70-strong FA entourage including the team, coaching staff and FA staff and the second for over 100 journalists who will travel.”

Johnson expects the FA’s 4,500-ticket allocation to be sold out. “There will also be hundreds of Jewish fans coming out. For example, the New Israel Fund is bringing a major mission and Jewish organisations will purchase their tickets from the Israel FA.”

He observed that the Let’s Kick Racism Out of Israel Football campaign “is really making an impact and the Israel-England game is obviously a great opportunity to get the anti-racism message to the Israeli public.”

Manchester-born Johnson was in Israel for the third time this year — the other occasions were to help launch the footballing anti-racism campaign and a summer holiday with his wife Joanna and three children. “Because I am so familiar with Israel I chose to lead this delegation,” he explained. “I’ve lots of contacts here and that has made things easier. I’ve also been able to soothe people’s fears at the FA about the security situation."

A lawyer by profession, the 40-year-old joined the FA in 2005 after working as ITV’s legal affairs director. He is responsible for public affairs, customer relations, England fans, child protection and the international department.

He would like to see the Israel FA punish Pini Zahavi for his involvement in the Ashley Cole “tapping-up” affair.

Having sat on the selection committee that chose Steve McClaren as England boss, he does not believe that McClaren should resign if England lose in Israel. “He should be given every chance to get England to the Euro 2008 finals.”