A bunch of about 50 Italy followers, dressed solely in black, turned their backs in protest throughout Israel’s nationwide anthem earlier than a Nations League match in impartial Hungary on Monday.
The followers additionally displayed an Italian flag with the phrase “Liberta” (“Freedom”) on it, together with banners that includes black slashes, held by “ultra” supporters.
Israel relocated its residence video games to Hungary because of the ongoing battle with Hamas.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has shut ties with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has lengthy promoted Hungary because the most secure nation in Europe for Jews. Orban has banned Palestinian solidarity protests, arguing they pose a menace to public security.
The identical group of Italy supporters who turned their backs in the course of the anthem additionally chanted towards Italian anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis in the course of the first half, the Italian day by day Corriere della Sera reported.
Salis was launched from home arrest in Budapest in June after going through expenses for allegedly assaulting far-right demonstrators.
Salis was freed after being elected as a member of the European Parliament for the Italian Green and Left Alliance.
Salis grew to become a hot-button political challenge in Italy after photographs emerged of her handcuffed and shackled in a Hungarian courtroom, the place she confronted trial.
The Israel-Italy recreation was performed at Bozsik Arena in Budapest, whereas Belgium’s 3-1 win over Israel on Friday was held in Debrecen, Hungary. Friday’s match was a house recreation for Belgium, however the Belgian soccer federation mentioned in July that “no local authority in Belgium considers it possible” to host a recreation towards Israel for safety causes.
Italy is scheduled to host Israel in Udine on Oct. 14, though Udine’s metropolis council has not endorsed the match, and a pro-Palestinian protest is deliberate for a similar day within the northern metropolis.
Source: www.dailysabah.com