England World Cup fan shouts ‘Free Palestine’ to Israeli reporter

World Cup 2022 briefing: Day 16

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A group of English football fans surprised an Israeli reporter on Sunday night as one of them shouted ‘Free Palestine’ during a TV interview. Supporters of the Three Lions were in celebratory mood after a convincing victory over Senegal, which booked their ticket to the World Cup quarter-finals. 

Special flights had to be arranged from Israel to Qatar, the host nation for this year’s tournament, as the two countries don’t hold any formal diplomatic relations. Israeli journalists have reported hostility since jetting over to the Middle East due to tensions arising from the country’s occupation of Palestinian territories. 

According to CNN, many Arab fans have refused to speak to reporters once learning that they are from Israel, while others have had to cope with abuse being hurled their way. Only a small consular team has flown over from Israel to Qatar, where the 3,800 citizens who applied for tickets have been advised to keep a low profile. 

One reporter got a shock on Sunday night following England’s 3-0 win over Senegal, with goals from Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka. 

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He stopped a cheery-looking group of Three Lions supporters after the final whistle and began by asking them whether football is coming home, to which one of them loudly responded: “Of course it is! But more importantly… Free Palestine!”

The reporter initially appeared surprised by the comment as the supporter was ushered away by his friends. Qatar officially supports the Palestinian cause and their national flag is commonly seen at 2022 World Cup games, even though LGBTQ+ flags were regularly confiscated at the start of the tournament. 

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Chants in support of Palestine have been frequently heard from the stands and Morocco star Jawad El Yamiq celebrated his side’s qualification for the knockout stages by holding a Palestinian flag aloft. England fans are set for another outing on Saturday as a crunch quarter-final against France lies in wait. 

Les Bleus came through their own Round of 16 clash on Sunday as the dangerous Kylian Mbappe starred in a 3-1 win over Poland. Olivier Giroud was also on the scoresheet to become France’s all time leading scorer while the likes of Ian Wright and Alan Shearer have urged England not to take the threat of Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele lightly. 

“We know [France will be] a step up from what we’ve had so far,” admitted manager Gareth Southgate after England’s spot in the last eight was confirmed. “But the team have garnered so much experience in the last few years, they’re playing with confidence and we look threatening.

“We’re scoring goals and another clean sheet is lovely to see. We’re in a good place but we know the level of the opposition as well.” Mbappe is in dominant form but Didier Deschamps’ side are yet to keep a clean sheet in their four matches so far in Qatar. 

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