The scenes of football fans waving the Palestinian flag in stadiums at local regional and international tournaments have become familiar across the globe.
To the disappointment of people who call for separating sports from politics this does not seem possible. Supporters of various teams have turned stadiums into platforms to voice their support for the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom and statehood. In some cases they have received punishments and restrictions from sports bodies such as UEFA for doing so.
In response to imposing a fine on the Celtic Club the Green Brigade one of the team’s ultras groups raised money to pay the fine imposed by UEFA and an additional 176000 British pounds to support Palestinian charities.
The Scottish Celtic fans in Scotland have repeatedly expressed their support for the Palestinian cause by raising Palestinian flags especially when their team is playing against an Israeli one. Celtic fans are also known for their pro-Palestine chants.
Manchester United midfielders Paul Pogba and Amad Diallo raised the Palestinian flag after a Premier League home tie against Fulham on May 18 2021.
More recently at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup held in Doha between November 30 and December 18 increasing solidarity with the Palestinian people was expressed by football fans. During the Tunisia-Egypt game Palestinian flags were visible. The Algerian football team and its fans were very vocal in support of Palestinians raising the Palestinian flag during their matches.
Following winning the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup Algeria’s fans and team raised the Palestinian flag. Following the Algeria-Morocco match Houcine Benayada Algeria’s national team player who wrapped the Palestinian and Algerian flags over his body said “We do not play for any bonus we play for these two flags.” Madjid Bougherra the Algerian team’s coach dedicated his country’s victory to the Palestinian people adding “We dedicate the Arab Cup to the Palestinian people and our people in Gaza.” In the streets of Gaza Palestinians took to the streets to celebrate Algeria’s championship.
Arab popular solidarity with the Palestinians is not strange as chants in support of the Palestinians have become the norm in stadiums. The fans of Moroccan team Raja have gone viral with a song they dedicated to Palestine which says: “Beloved Palestine you are the most beautiful of countries May God protect you… Alrajais [the fans of Raja] are the voice of oppressed people… Freedom to Palestine and happiness shall prevail in Jerusalem.” Most recently the Egyptian team Al Ahly raised a Palestinian flag after winning the CAF Super Cup in a match played against Raja in Doha.
These chants of solidarity show that sports can’t be separated from politics and that losing a game by withdrawing for political reasons is as powerful as any victory. These acts of solidarity with the Palestinian people from Scotland to Algeria and Morocco to Qatar prove once again that sports is a powerful tool for change.
World’s Double Standards
Speaking to the PIC reporter the official spokesman for the Popular Conference for Palestinians Abroad Ziad Al-Aloul slammed the FIFA’s double standard policy after banning any political expression on the sports field when it is related to Palestine while tolerating some exceptions to the general ban on making political statements in support of Ukraine.
Israel Targets Sports in Palestine
Palestinian players and sports people have always been a target for Israel. In 2009 Israeli forces arrested Palestinian footballer Mahmoud al-Sarsak while he was on his way to the West Bank from the Gaza Strip. They held him under the “Unlawful Combatants Law” which allows Israel to hold prisoners without charge or trial. After three years under arrest al-Sarsak gained his freedom after going on a three-month-long hunger strike.
Palestinian sports infrastructure and players have also been targeted by Israel. In 2009 Israel bombed Al Ahli Sports Club in the refugee camp Al-Nusierat and during the Great March of Return (GMR) on April 4 2018 Israeli snipers shot Palestinian footballer Mohammed Khalil in the knee ending his career. In fact dozens of Palestinians who were rendered amputees by Israeli forces during the GMR protests formed an amputee football team.
Israel has made it almost impossible for Palestinian teams from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to play against each other during national tournaments. This has prompted Palestinian sports officials to complain against Israel to FIFA. Israel has lifted some of these restrictions but many of them are still in place rendering it almost impossible for Palestinian players to compete freely.
Palestine armbands at the World Cup
For the 2022 World Cup in Qatar that starts November 21 Arab activists have launched a social media campaign to persuade at least one of the participating Arab teams — Morocco Saudi Arabia Tunisia and the host Qatar — to wear Palestine solidarity armbands in November.
This campaign builds on fan support of Palestine which has increased over the years with Palestine flags appearing in different stadiums across the world.
