Egyptian Football Association logo. Photo: Egyptian Football Association Website.

Egypt rejected an Israeli offer to hold a friendly soccer match between their national teams, the Saudi-owned pan-Arab news outlet Al Arabiya reported on Sunday.

Speaking to Al Arabiya, Azmi Mugahed, the Egyptian Football Association’s (EFA) spokesman, revealed that Israel had recently sent the EFA the request to hold the match, the second time it had done so since 2010. Egypt rejected the offer both times, Mugahed said, adding that no patriotic Egyptian could ever accept such an offer.

“We will never permit or agree to a match either with the Israeli national team or with any [Israeli] soccer clubs,” Mugahed said. “The idea of playing against Israel is entirely inconceivable, and is rejected by the people of Egypt.”

Al Arabiya commented that Israel intended the match to be an “ice breaker” that would help reduce tensions between Egyptians and Israelis.