A political-sports controversy erupted in Lebanon once morest the backdrop of Lebanon’s victory in the Asian Basketball Cup matches following one of the team’s players refused to congratulate Mikati on their victory.
The indirect sparring began following Lebanon defeated China last Wednesday and qualified for the semi-final match. A sports website published Mikati’s congratulations to the Lebanese team, promising not to fail to provide the necessary support.
Arakji commented with a harsh response to the published news and said in English: “We do not want to congratulate him while we are trying to wipe the dirt that we put in with his political colleagues. Therefore, it is better not to speak.” He said, “We come from a country full of sadness and we want the happiness of our people nothing more.”
This response, which was popular and supported through social media by enthusiastic activists for their country’s team on the one hand, and discontent with the political class on the other, and called for an indirect response by Mikati, on Saturday, following the Lebanese national team won over the Jordanian team and qualified for the final.
In a statement, Mikati renewed his congratulations to the team and responded to Arakji’s words, describing it as a “discord”, saying: “We once once more congratulate the Lebanese basketball team for winning the semi-finals of the Asian Men’s Basketball Championship. This victory represents, in these difficult circumstances, a gesture. Hope for the Lebanese youth and for Lebanon.
He added, “On this occasion, I salute once once more to the athletes who already have good sporting ethics, and who will not be disturbed by a trespass from here or a dissonance from there.”
Mikati’s response also provoked angry reactions from activists and some politicians who supported Araqji and the Lebanese players, including MP Firas Hamdan, who wrote on his Facebook account, attacking Mikati: “The sure discord is your presence in Lebanese political life. It is your designation to head the government, which is authorized to draw up rescue plans from the collapse that we are paying for in our future and our lives, and for which you and your partners from the forces of the system bear the political and moral responsibility.”
Knowing that congratulating the national team on the victory was not limited to Mikati, but included most of the officials in Lebanon, most notably President Michel Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, at a time when the Lebanese are suffering from worsening living, economic and social crises, while these officials only exchange accusations of responsibility and make promises. without implementing any of them.