A women’s soccer game in Kent, England, was indefinitely suspended over the weekend after fans from both teams displayed pro-Palestinian flags during the game. Clapton Community was facing off against Dulwich Hamlet Reserves in the final London and South East Women’s Regional Football League at Gallagher Stadium, but after Clapton led the match 2-0, the game was paused.
According to BBC, officials requested that fans of both Clapton Community and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves remove the pro-Palestinian flags, but the fans refused.
A women’s soccer game in Kent, England, was indefinitely suspended over the weekend after fans from both teams displayed pro-Palestinian flags during the game. Clapton Community was facing off against Dulwich Hamlet Reserves in the final London and South East Women’s Regional Football League at Gallagher Stadium, but after Clapton led the match 2-0, the game was paused.Â
According to BBC, officials requested that fans of both Clapton Community and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves remove the pro-Palestinian flags, but the fans refused.
League officials determined that the flags posed a safety risk and defied the stadium regulations. As a result, the game was stopped. Gallagher Stadium issued an announcement over the PA system asking everyone to leave, and a joint protest ensued outside of the grounds involving both Dulwich and Clapton fans.
Maidstone United released a statement after the game saying, “Maidstone United is a football club serving the local community. Ensuring a peaceful and safe environment for spectators in the stadium is a priority. The club does not engage in politics of any kind.”
Maidstone United and Football Association rules do state that flags can be banned if they “interfere with the viewing of spectators.” The rules also state that spectators cannot act in a way that could be a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to others.
Tammy Hymas, who plays for Clapton Community, said, “The game was stopped. As I understand, there was a suggestion the match could continue behind closed doors, with no fans. As a team we refused that offer, we said we wanted to show solidarity, so we went into the stands and joined the fans.”
So, stand with the fans they did. Both the athletes and the fans all stood together just after the match was stopped. One fan said, “It felt genuinely powerful. I’ve never seen something like it in football – it was beautiful.”
A spokesperson for the Dulwich Hamlet team said, “We are very disappointed that the L&SERWFL Trophy final has ended in this fashion.” The London and South East Women’s Regional Football League has not yet announced how the final game will be decided, or if it will be.
