Israeli Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev speaks during a press conference on June 6, 2018, in Tel Aviv following the cancellation of the game between Israel and Argentina. (AFP photo)
JERUSALEM, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev said Wednesday that "terror threats" sent to Argentinian players were the reason for the cancellation of a World Cup warmup match in Jerusalem.
Argentina's football federation has canceled the friendly match in the wake of protests by anti-occupation activists.
Regev told a press conference in Tel Aviv that the game was called off because of "threats by terror elements sent to (Lionel) Messi and his family and to other players."
Israeli opposition lawmakers accused the firebrand minister of politicizing the event by insisting on relocating the match from Haifa to contested Jerusalem and by trying to organize a politicized photo-op with Messi.
Regev rejected the criticism, saying the Argentinian organizers did not oppose the location and that Messi wanted to visit holy sites in Jerusalem.
The cancellation is seen as a major win for BDS, pro-Palestinian boycott activists who are part of an international campaign promoting Palestinian rights.