The Scottish Football Association have been fined over £8,000 by world footballing body FIFA after their fans booed the Israeli national anthem before last month’s World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park.
FIFA also criticised Scotland fans for displaying an inappropriate flag (thought to be the Palestinian flag) during the match.
The SFA were hit with a breach of FIFA Disciplinary Code Article 16 and the world’s governing body explained the fine was due to: “Order and security at matches (disturbance during national anthems, use of objects – flag – to transmit a message that is not appropriate for a sports event).”
Pro-Palestine protesters had gathered outside Hampden Park in Glasgow on October 10, ahead of Scotland’s World Cup qualifier match against Israel.
Many others took part in the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration outside the national stadium.
Demonstrators outside the ground held Palestinian flags and a banner reading “Zionism is racism. Victory to the intifada.”
A month earlier the phrases “Palestinian blood” and “Free Gaza” were spraypainted on the stadium’s walls, reported Palestinian news agency WAFA.
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Scotland eventually won the match 3-2, effectively eliminating Israel from the World Cup.
In 2018 the SFA itself banned fans from bringing any flags other than those of Scotland and Israel to a match between the two sides in the Nations League.
