England refuse to light Wembley arch in Israeli colours but will hold minute’s silence

The iconic Wembley Arch will not be illuminated in the colors of Israel’s flag during England’s match against Australia on Friday. However, there will be a minute’s silence and both teams will wear black armbands to pay tribute to the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Israel. The decision not to light up the arch in blue and white is reportedly due to fear of a backlash, with concerns about an upcoming World Cup qualifier between Australia and Palestine being one of the factors. The Football Association (FA) is currently in talks with Football Australia to decide what will be done with the arch, with the possibility of switching off the lights entirely as a mark of respect. The match will also include support for the Red Cross.

The FA is also discussing with the Premier League and English Football League about a unified response to the recent bloodshed. The slow response within the football community to the terrorist attacks has angered many British Jews, including former FA chairmen Lord Triesman and David Bernstein. It remains to be seen whether they will be satisfied with the reasons given for not lighting up the arch for Friday’s game, and they may also question why this decision was not made earlier in the week.

In the past, the Wembley Arch has been illuminated to show support for various causes, including the NHS, LGBT rights, and the death of Pele. The minute’s silence during Friday’s game is expected to honor the innocent victims of the recent attacks as well as the civilians affected by retaliatory air strikes by Israel. This is hoped to prevent any disruptive chanting by pro-Palestinian or pro-Israeli supporters.

The FA is expected to announce its specific plans on Thursday after receiving guidance from the government, which has recommended showing support for the terror attack victims in Israel. The culture secretary, Lucy Frazer, has written to major UK sports bodies, encouraging them to mark the events appropriately, as previous sporting events have done in the past. Lord John Mann, the Government’s adviser on anti-Semitism, has also held discussions with the FA about illuminating the Wembley Arch in the colors of Israel’s flag, potentially even before the England-Australia game.

The fallout from the weekend’s attacks has extended to football, with Arsenal warning their players about potential backlash for their social media posts. Mohamed Elneny changed his Twitter and Instagram avatars to feature the Palestine flag, prompting the club to caution their entire squad about the possible consequences. Lord Mann has been in talks with the Premier League and the English Football League to determine the best response, and clubs are seeking advice on appropriate gestures. Jewish supporters’ organizations for Arsenal, Chelsea, and Watford have criticized the silence from football regarding the Hamas terror attacks and urged governing bodies and clubs to show public sympathy and respect. Clubs using their extensive social media platforms to express support would be significant and helpful, according to Lord Mann.

While clubs have remained silent thus far, two Arsenal players, Mohamed Elneny and Oleksandr Zinchenko, have used social media to show support for both Israel and Palestine. Arsenal has not asked these players to delete their messages or change their avatars but has warned the squad about the potential backlash that could upset their global fanbase. The club is organizing an anti-Semitism workshop and maintaining constant dialogue with Arsenal’s Jewish Gooners group.

In another development, Israel’s Football Association (IFA) has accused FIFA of disregarding the recent terrorist attacks in the country. The IFA expressed disappointment after UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin sent condolences to the IFA but FIFA remained silent. The IFA described this as “the sound of silence,” pointing out that over 1,200 civilians were killed and many more injured in a brutal attack. They expressed their concern about FIFA’s lack of response to these horrific events. Additionally, UEFA postponed Israel’s European Championship qualifier in Kosovo due to the Israeli government’s travel ban for sports teams due to safety concerns. The game against Switzerland had already been canceled. Ceferin’s letter to the IFA expressed profound sorrow and sympathy for the victims and their families, emphasizing the need for a world free from such acts of violence.

In conclusion, the decision not to illuminate the Wembley Arch in the colors of Israel’s flag during the England-Australia match has generated controversy and anger among British Jews. The FA is working with various organizations to determine a unified response to the weekend’s attacks, including support for the Red Cross. The minute’s silence during the game is expected to honor the victims of the attacks and civilians affected by retaliatory air strikes by Israel. The fallout from the attacks has extended to football clubs, with Arsenal warning their players about potential backlash for their social media posts. The lack of response from FIFA to the attacks in Israel has sparked criticism from the Israeli Football Association. UEFA has expressed condolences and postponed a qualifier due to travel restrictions imposed by the Israeli government.

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Michael Johnson

Michael Johnson is your soccer guru, providing extensive coverage of soccer. With a global perspective, he delivers match reports, player interviews, and insights into the beautiful game, ensuring readers stay connected to the world of soccer.