Police break up pro-Palestine protest during Norway v Israel match | OneFootball

The Norwegian police dispersed a group of pro-Palestinian protesters and made several arrests this Saturday in Oslo, on the occasion of the match between Norway and Israel for the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, as reported by AFP.

Held under heavy police protection, the match, won 5-0 by the Scandinavians, was marked by a peaceful demonstration that gathered hundreds of people, and by actions in support of Palestine at the Ullevaal stadium before the kickoff.

Later, police equipped with riot gear dispersed dozens of protesters, some with covered faces, who remained near the stadium with tear gas. Subsequently, the officers made several arrests.

Before the match, the protesters had unfurled a giant Palestinian flag and a huge banner reading “Let the children live” in the stands of the stadium, where dozens of Israeli fans waved their country's flags with a banner: “Let the ball speak.”

During the Israeli anthem, boos were heard. A man wearing a “Free Palestine” t-shirt briefly invaded the field during the match before being restrained.

With kufiyas (the traditional Palestinian scarf) around their necks and waving Palestinian flags, the protesters had gathered hours earlier in the center of the Norwegian capital before marching to the Ullevaal stadium, in a calm atmosphere despite the use of flares.

“The message we want to convey today is that we are showing the red card against Israel, against apartheid, and against genocide,” declared Line Khateeb, president of the Norwegian Committee for Palestine, one of the organizations promoting the mobilization, to AFP.

“We refuse to let football be used to whitewash war crimes, as is happening today with Israel's participation in the World Cup qualifiers,” she added.

At the demonstration, signs were displayed with messages such as “Exclude Israel from international football,” “Red card for Israel,” or “This is genocide, not a war.”

Proceeds for Doctors Without Borders

The organizers decided to maintain the demonstration despite the ceasefire agreement in Gaza reached on Thursday between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

“This does not end the occupation. It does not mean that the West Bank is free. It does not mean that Palestine is free. We need to keep pushing and impose sanctions on Israel to hold them accountable so that Palestine can truly be free,” insisted Khateeb.

The president of the Norwegian Football Federation, Lise Klaveness, recently indicated she is working “for Israel to be sanctioned.”

“Personally, I believe that if Russia is excluded, Israel should be too,” she stated in a podcast.

A few days after the Russian army's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, UEFA and FIFA jointly excluded the Russian national team and clubs from all international competitions, a sanction that is still in effect.

The ticket revenue from the Norway-Israel match will be donated to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), announced the Norwegian Football Federation.

Norway defeated Israel 5-0, reinforcing its lead in the group ahead of Italy, with a 100% success rate.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.