CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — After Egypt’s victory over Australia in the World Cup, coach Hossam Hassan displayed a Palestinian flag on the pitch, dedicating the win to Egyptians and Palestinians. He expressed emotional support, stating, “My heart and soul are with them.” Egypt advanced in the elimination round by defeating Australia 4-2 on penalties, following a 1-1 tie in the round of 32. This marks Egypt’s fourth World Cup appearance.
A video showing Hassan walking with the flag, while people chanted “Free, free Palestine,” gained significant attention online. Yahia Qalash, ex-head of Egypt’s Journalists’ Union, described it as a significant scene at an unusual moment.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has displaced over 2 million Palestinians, who are now in dire circumstances. The war has seen large Palestinian casualties, as stated by Gaza’s Health Ministry. This situation has led to global pro-Palestinian protests and gestures of solidarity from some athletes. Earlier this year, Lamine Yamal, a Barcelona player, displayed a Palestinian flag during celebrations of his team’s Spanish league title, leading to criticism from Israel’s defense minister.
Hassan, not publicly associated with religious or political entities, dedicated the win to the “good and noble” Egyptian and Palestinian people. When questioned about the flag, FIFA stated it is allowed at the World Cup and confirmed no action against Hassan. Their statement clarified, “Flags representing all 211 FIFA Member Associations are permitted at FIFA tournaments, and supporters are welcome to display them in accordance with stadium regulations and the FIFA Stadium Code of Conduct.” The Palestine Football Association is part of FIFA’s member organizations.
FIFA has a history of restricting political statements at its events. In 2022, some teams at the Qatar World Cup were prohibited from wearing armbands supporting the “One Love” initiative, an anti-discrimination campaign. Additionally, Iranian Americans in Los Angeles attempted to display the pre-revolutionary Iranian flag during Iran’s World Cup matches but were unsuccessful in overcoming FIFA’s ban on that flag.
Leave a Reply