Osasuna fans call for expelling 'Israel' from FIFA, UEFA

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
16 Feb 2025 16:05
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Attention turns to the Spanish League and how it will respond to the Osasuna supporters.

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Osasuna fans unfold a banner reading "Show Israel the red card" before the Spanish league football match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid CF at El Sadar Stadium in Pamplona on February 15, 2025 (AFP)

Fans of Spain’s La Liga joined the wave of pro-Palestine protests sweeping European football stadiums during Saturday night’s match between Osasuna and Real Madrid.

During the game, Osasuna supporters displayed a banner reading, “Show ‘Israel’ the red card,” mirroring a similar sign waved by Scotland Celtic's fans during Wednesday’s Champions League match against Bayern Munich. Both messages called for "Israel’s" suspension from FIFA and UEFA over its war on the Gaza Strip.

Attention now turns to the Spanish League and how it will respond to the Osasuna supporters.

The Green Brigade, a prominent Celtic fan organization, urged football supporters worldwide to demand "Israel’s" exclusion from international competitions. In a statement on the X platform, the group announced: "At the start of the second half we will wave the sign calling on UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel from all activity. We call on you to do the right thing, and join soccer fans around the world who support this message."

“Show Israel the Red Card” banner from Osasuna fans ahead of their game against Real Madrid in La Liga today.

The Basques fans raised thousands of ‘red cards’ joining the call made by Celtic’s Green Brigade, who urged football fans to show solidarity with Palestine.@Osasuna 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/smBU4CjDy2
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) February 15, 2025

"‘Israel’ is committing genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid. In the last 15 months, at least 382 Palestinian footballers and 235 other athletes have been killed, including 96 children and 286 youths. The Israeli occupation has destroyed 147 football facilities and 140 other sports venues across Palestine. These crimes have no place in our beautiful game," the Celtic fans wrote.

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is expected to launch an investigation and impose sanctions on Celtic over its fans’ actions, likely including a financial penalty, as it has done in similar cases in the past.