The Premier League and EFL (English Football League) have jointly decided to prohibit the display of Israeli and Palestinian flags at their matches this weekend.
This move is aimed at preventing potential incidents and disturbances related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group in the Middle East from spilling over into the stadiums.
The decision follows a recent ban by the English Football Association (FA), which disallowed these flags from being shown inside Wembley Stadium during England’s match against Italy earlier this week.
READ ALSO: Israel- Hamas war: Football stars advocating for Palestine
Controversies surrounding Israeli-Palestinian flags and player reactions
Before the England-Italy match, players observed a moment of silence, but some spectators at Wembley expressed their disapproval by booing during this period of remembrance. Despite police restrictions, an Israel flag was seen in the crowd, and stewards had to intervene to remove it.
Protests in support of both Israel and Palestine have taken place in various parts of the UK. The flag ban is intended to prevent any potential conflicts at football matches.
The EFL, responsible for managing the Championship, League One, and League Two, followed the lead of the Premier League in implementing this ban.
READ ALSO: Israel vs Gaza: Dutch footballer Anwar El-Ghazi suspended over support for Palestine
Some football players have started to express their concerns about the violence in Israel and Gaza. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah released a video message urging world leaders to take action to prevent further loss of life in the conflict.
This message coincides with actions taken against other European football players who have faced bans for their social media activity related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
For instance, Anwar El Ghazi, a former Everton and Aston Villa winger, was suspended by Bundesliga club Mainz after he posted a now-deleted pro-Palestine update on Instagram. In contrast, Tottenham’s Manor Solomon faced no sanctions after he suggested that Hamas was blaming Israel for the casualties resulting from an explosion at a Gaza hospital.
