‘Show Israel the Red Card’: Anti-Genocide Celtic Fans Call for Israel’s Suspension from International Competitions

Glasgow (Quds News Network)- Ultras of Scottish football team Celtic called for Israel to be banned from international competitions during a crunch Champions League tie with Bayern Munich on Wednesday night in response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Fans unfurled a large banner reading “Show ‘Israel’ the Red Card” during halftime in a major protest led by the Green Brigades supporter group.

Hundreds of supporters also held up smaller red leaflets distributed by the group carrying the same message.

“At the start of the second half, please Show ‘Israel’ the Red Card to send a direct message to UEFA and FIFA to apply their respective statutes and suspend ‘Israel’ from competition,” the leaflet read.

“By doing so, you will not only be doing the right thing but you will be joining football fans of conscience and courage around the world who will be adopting the same message.”

Several Palestinian flags could be seen around the ground.

“This was a direct message to UEFA and FIFA to apply their respective statutes and suspend ‘Israel’ from competition,” the Green Brigades said in a statement on Thursday.

“‘Israel is committing genocide and ethnic cleansing; it is practicing apartheid; and it is illegally occupying Palestinian territory. All of this is in breach of international law.”

“We call on football fans around the world who value life, humanity, dignity, freedom, peace, and justice to be courageous and to use your platform to stand against the crimes of ‘Israel’ and stand with Palestine.”

“If the football world unites to isolate ‘Israel’, then other arenas will inevitably follow this example.”

Celtic fans are well known for their pro-Palestine activism and have for years flown Palestinian flags during games.

More than 48,200 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israel’s 15-month assault on Gaza, according to the Health Ministry, including hundreds of footballers. Israel also destroyed most of the enclave’s sports infrastructure.