Football in the Field: Israel-Palestine Conflict and the Beautiful Game
During the Qatar World Cup in 2022, the Palestinian cause drew support and FIFA could only look away. Now again, with passions about Israel and Palestine raging high, players are expressing their views and clubs are responding. But it is not a level-playing field.
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Celtic fans hold up banners to free Palestine. Photo: X/@praizzy_p
New Delhi: In the midst of the worsening Israel-Palestine conflict, football, a sport celebrated for its universal appeal, has found itself trapped in political controversy and division. The conflict’s deep-rooted tensions have transcended international borders, affecting players, fans, and sports organisations.
The FIFA World Cup hosted by Qatar last year witnessed a show of pro-Palestinian solidarity. The most significant being the celebration by Morocco’s players after their historic win against Spain to enter the quarter-finals of the World Cup. After the win, players celebrated by raising the Palestinian flag. Fans displayed “Free Palestine” signs in the stands and on stadium walls. In another instance during the France-Tunisia game, a fan managed to get onto the field, waving the Palestinian flag.
The stadiums in Qatar during the World Cup found a place for Palestinian flags, fans came wearing Palestinian armbands and black-and-white headdresses. Some Israeli TV reporters faced open hostility. FIFA struggled to hold the line between sports and politics.
Now, a year on, with a battle raging, football is again on the frontline.
League Disruptions: Impact on International Competitions
The conflict’s impact extended far beyond individual players and clubs, disrupting entire leagues and international competitions.
The Palestinian football team’s withdrawal from the Merdeka Cup friendly tournament in Malaysia exemplified this disruption. The team’s absence left the tournament with only three teams, altering the event’s dynamics and raising concerns about future participations, including the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the regional Asian Cup tournament in Qatar.
Additionally, UEFA’s decision to postpone all matches in Israel, including Euro 2024 qualifiers and youth competitions, further emphasised the far-reaching consequences of the conflict. Matches involving Israel, Estonia, Germany, Belgium, Gibraltar, Switzerland, Kosovo and Wales were all affected, reflecting the conflict’s deep impact on football at various levels.
Expressing Solidarity: Double Standards?
The discordant nature of the conflict came to the fore when Schalke player Yusuf Kabadayi expressed his solidarity with Palestine on social media. His post, “I stand with Palestine,” was met with swift condemnation from his employer, forcing Kabadayi issue a public apology. This incident highlighted the complexities faced by athletes expressing political beliefs, especially in such a sensitive and polarising conflict.
Kabadayi is a 19-year-old left-winger, who played for Turkey, but since 2018 has been playing for the German U-18 team. Currently, he is on a loan deal from German giants, Bayern Munich.
In a striking contrast, Bayern Munich’s Daniel Peretz faced no repercussions for his pro-Israel statement after Hamas’ attack on Israel last week. This glaring disparity in treatment underscores the need for consistent policies governing players’ political views and raises crucial questions about freedom of expression in football.
The Wire has reached out to Bundesliga and FC Schalke 04 for a comment on the matter. The copy will be updated when there is a response.
The Celtic Controversy: A Player Caught in the Storm
The conflict cast a shadow on Scotland’s Celtic Football Club, where Israeli player Liel Abada became embroiled in tensions. Abada’s association with Israel led to turmoil among the club’s fans, some of whom openly supported the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. A Celtic support group, the Green Brigade, expressed solidarity with Palestine, prompting the club’s board to distance itself. Abada faced intense pressure from his home country to sever ties with the club, a sentiment echoed publicly by his teammate, Israel international Dolev Haziza.
Celtic’s management supported Abada, acknowledging the abuse he endured on social media due to his association with the club amid the Gaza crisis.
This incident once again illuminated the complexities of navigating sports when political conflicts infiltrate players’ lives, leaving athletes grappling with their roles as both sporting heroes and political symbols.
Wembley Arch Controversy: UK Government and FA Clash Over Israeli Flag Lighting
The Football Association (FA) faced backlash from UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer for its decision to not illuminate the Wembley arch in the colours of the Israeli flag ahead of the England-Australia friendly. The government had urged sports bodies to appropriately acknowledge events in Israel and Palestine.
The FA opted for a “moment of silence” and “black armbands” for players to honor the conflict’s victims during the match, instead of illuminating the stadium in Israel flag’s colours. Notably, representations of nationalities (flags, bands, etc.) beyond England and Australia are barred from Wembley Stadium. Frazer expressed “deep disappointment”, especially given the arch’s prior illumination in solidarity with Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. The Board of Deputies of British Jews criticised the FA for overlooking the tragic loss of innocent lives in the recent attacks.