FIFA Fines Scotland for Booing Israeli Occupation Anthem
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The world football’s governing body, FIFA, fines the Scottish Football Association after some Scottish fans booed the Israeli anthem during the game that witnessed a Scottish 3-2 win.
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These displays of solidarity with Palestine are familiar to the Scottish public.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) was fined £8,024 ($10,786) by FIFA after some Scottish fans booed the Israeli occupation anthem during Scotland's match with the Zionist entity last month in a World Cup qualifier event.
The SFA was sanctioned for inappropriate “order and security at matches (disturbance during national anthems, use of objects – flag – to transmit a message that is not appropriate for a sports event)," according to FIFA's Disciplinary Code Article 16.
In addition, the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstrators gathered outside the Hampden Park stadium in Glasgow and raised Palestinian flags and banners reading “Zionism is racism. Victory to the intifada."
Pro-Palestine Activists Protest against #Football Match between #Scotland and #Israel (VIDEO) https://t.co/EcxM3VMVAK via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/kYpdAsbD7L
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 10, 2021
Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that unknown individuals spraypainted the phrases “Palestinian blood” and “Free Gaza” on the stadium’s walls.
In October, the Israeli football team was defeated by the Scottish team, 3-2, in Glasgow, Scotland in the European Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Yet their defeat was twofold: Scottish fans reminded the Israeli team of the atrocities its regime commits, swarming the stadium with Palestinian flags and pro-Palestinian banners.
Some of the slogans held by the Scottish public included, and were not limited to: "Boycott Israel", "End Apartheid", "Zionism is racism", and "Victory for the Intifada."
These displays of solidarity are familiar to the Scottish public, notably the Celtic F.C. fans, who have always openly declared their support for the Palestinian cause by abundantly raising the flags of the occupied country in their stadium, all whilst chanting pro-Palestinian anthems.
