Pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police in the city of Udine, in northern Italy, this Tuesday (14). The mobilization took place hours before the match between Israel and Italy for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The protest was accompanied by a strong security scheme, set up to prevent the infiltration of violent groups and contain possible acts of vandalism.
Around 10,000 people participated in the demonstration, according to local authorities. The Committee for Palestine-Udine, responsible for organizing the event, asked FIFA to exclude Israel from all international competitions. The group accuses the Israeli team of supporting “occupation policies” in the Palestinian territories and of using sport as a political propaganda tool.
The protesters carried an 18-meter-long Palestinian flag and a large red banner with the slogan “Show Israel the red card.” A metal sculpture symbolizing justice was displayed during the protest: in one hand, the scales; in the other, a red card. The march continued through the city center to the vicinity of the Friuli Stadium, the venue for the game between the two teams.
During the event, some of the protesters launched fireworks and threw barriers at the police. Security forces responded with water cannons and tear gas to disperse the group. A journalist was injured in the clashes and had to be taken to hospital, according to information from the Ansa agency.
Even after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas group, organizers decided to maintain the protest. The pact provided for the partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, but protesters said the ceasefire did not represent an end to the violence. “There was a ceasefire, but not peace. There can be no peace without justice”, declared protester Valentina Bianchi.
Andrea Ciampi, who traveled from Venice to Udine to take part in the march, said he was a big football fan, but considered it more important to demonstrate than to go to the stadium. “The ceasefire is good because it stops the massacre, but where is the voice of the Palestinian people in this agreement?” he asked in an interview with Reuters.
Local authorities adopted several restrictions due to the possibility of clashes. Concrete barriers were installed around the stadium, streets were blocked and local businesses partially operated. The sale of drinks in glass containers was also prohibited. Despite expectations, only 9,000 tickets were sold for the match, a number below the reduced capacity of 16,000 seats.
The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when the group launched an attack that killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapped another 251. Since then, more than 67,000 Palestinians have died in the Gaza Strip, according to data from local authorities linked to Hamas. The conflict continues as a backdrop for protests in several countries, including at sporting events.
