A fan at Wembley Stadium decided to take a bold and risky stance by holding up an Israeli flag during the England vs Australia friendly match on Friday, October 13, 2023.
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A fan with the Israeli flag during the England vs Australia match. | Credit: Shaun Brooks/Action Plus[/caption]
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has sparked global reactions and debates, including in the world of sports. While some sports stars have expressed their support for either side of the conflict, others have called for peace and dialogue.
On Friday, October 13, 2023, some
Muslim and Arab sport stars also had a virtual summit on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
During England's 1-0 win against Australia at Wembley Stadium, the man was pictured holding up the Israeli flag, despite the police banning him from doing so.
Before the game started, there was a tribute to the lives lost in the Israel-Hamas war.
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The tribute to the victims of the Israel-Hamas war before the game. | Credit: PA[/caption]
As reported by
Mirror, stewards had also pledged to confiscate any flags, shirts or scarves that didn't represent England or Australia. Some politicians and activists had asked the Football Association to light up the Wembley arch in the colors of the Israeli flag, but the fan's actions went against that decision.
Instead, the FA decided to observe a moment of silence before the game in memory of all of the innocent people lost in the war, regardless of their ethnicity or religion. The FA also mandated that each side wear black armbands during the game to show their respect and unity.
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