Politics on the pitch: when Gaza and sports collide

Instead of providing a diversion from the Gaza conflict, sport has been thrust into the heart of it

By DAVE ZIRIN*

Sevilla (Spain) striker Fredi Kanoute (pictured in photograph after the ‘more’ break). Kanoute, who was born in France, could have played for the French national team in the World Cup but instead chose to play for Mali to show African solidarity.

(January 23, 2009) – IN JANUARY 2008, Egyptian soccer star Mohamed Aboutreika followed a goal by raising his shirt to reveal the slogan “Sympathise with Gaza”. His actions were meant to put a spotlight onto the economic embargo that Israel had imposed on Palestinians in Gaza after the election of the Hamas government.

Reality check: Three Palestinian soccer players killed in aggression against Gaza

GAZA (January 14, 2009) RIA Novosti – THREE TOP Palestinian soccer players have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip over the past 72 hours, the Sports Journalists’ Association reported on Wednesday, citing the Palsport news agency.

Study shows heavy blow on Spanish football by global economic crisis

MADRID, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) – A study carried out by a professor of finance and economics at the University of Barcelona has reached the conclusion that Spanish football is suffering the effects of the global economic crisis.

No Justice, No Play? Anger over Gaza overwhelms hoops contest

By DAVE ZIRIN*

Ankara, Turkey – Israeli basketball team, Bnei Hasharon, has to flee the court

(January 13, 2009) – WE HAVE OFFICIALLY entered uncharted waters. Never before in my years of reporting has a sports team been forced to abandon the field of play due to political protest from fans. Never before have fans become the central actors in turning a sporting event into a political melee.

But Tuesday evening in Ankara, Turkey, the Israeli basketball team, Bnei Hasharon, had to flee the wrath of what the Associated Press described as “hundreds of fist-pumping, chanting Turkish fans.”

Kanoute facing Palestine shirt fine

Sevilla striker scores yellow card after revealing Palestine shirt during game in Spain.

Sevilla’s Frederic Kanoute (L) celebrates next to Luis Fabiano after scoring against Deportivo Coruna during their Spanish King’s Cup soccer match at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville January 7, 2009. (Marcelo Del Pozo / Newscom)

English soccer team supports Palestinian aid

The slogan ‘Palestine Aid’ will be emblazoned on Kettering Town’s shirts for their FA Cup tie with Eastwood Town

By JON HENDERSON, The Guardian

Kettering Town’s shirt, showing support for the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, which they will wear in the FA Cup tomorrow. Photograph: Action Images

LONDON (January 2, 2009) – SHIRTS worn by players in an FA Cup tie tomorrow will be the unlikely advertising hoarding for the plight of Palestinians. Kettering Town will have the slogan Palestine Aid emblazoned on their kit to show their support for Interpal, a charitable organisation which distributes aid in the Palestinian territories.