Put out more flags

FANS of Hapoel Be'er Sheva, an Israeli football team that visited Scotland on August 17th to play Glasgow Celtic in a European Champions League qualifier, were greeted at the Parkhead stadium by a sea of Palestinian flags. Europe's football authority, UEFA, took a dim view. It bans 'messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature' and has ruled the Palestinian flag 'illicit' before. The return leg, in Israel on August 23rd, passed without incident. Celtic may still face a sanction. It would not be the first time: two years ago the club was fined '20,000 ($27,000) after its fans flew the Palestinian standard at a match against KR Reykjavik.Why do Glaswegian football fans take such an interest in Middle Eastern politics' Their club, founded in 1887 by poor Irish Catholic immigrants, rapidly became associated with political causes, from campaigns against economic discrimination suffered by Catholics in Scotland to the fight for Irish home rule. Most supporters are acutely aware of this history. 'What Ireland went through, that's what Palestinians are going though...Continue reading
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