closeicon
News

Anti-Israel football match demo's own goal

articlemain

Anti-Israel activists protested outside an under-18 international football match on Monday.

A group of nine middle-aged and elderly demonstrators urged fans attending the game between England and Israel's junior teams to support a campaign to persuade the English FA to suspend all matches against teams from Israel.

They stood outside the Global Arena stadium in Morecambe, Lancashire, handing out leaflets calling for "Fair Play for Palestine".

They also invited fans to sign an open letter to the FA to ban games against Israeli teams.

Activist Eugene Doherty said: "Arab and Israeli children are segregated and we are opposed to that. Palestinian children are at risk of the things that the Israeli army do."

Among the fans rejecting the protest was Keith Fairclough, a member of the Merseyside Friends of Israel group.

"My feelings are that this was just another way of having a go at Israel," said Mr Fairclough. "It's a disgrace."

The match passed off without any incident, and with minimal police presence. England won the contest 5-1.

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive