A rabbi working on a Football Association faith group has resigned over the governing body’s response to the Hamas attacks on Israeli residents last weekend.
Alex Goldberg wrote to the FA to say he was “profoundly disenchanted” that there have been no plans for a particular tribute to the victims of those attacks.
He said the choice to not light up the Wembley arch in the colors of the Israeli flag ahead of the friendly between England and Australia on Friday night had been “received badly” and in addition questioned the choice not to allow the flags of any nation to be brought into Wembley besides those of England and Australia.
“Many see the statement only to allow flags and representations of the competing nations as eradicating Jewish symbols and it has compounded grievances with the gravity of the recent events, but in addition inadvertently neglects the safety and emotional well-being of Jewish fans who could also be in attendance,” he wrote in a letter published by the Jewish News.
The FA responded to Rabbi Goldberg’s letter by saying: “We are sorry to listen to of Rabbi Alex’s decision to resign from his role in our Faith in Football group.
“Although that is an off-the-cuff group that is just not a part of the FA’s governance structure, we’re grateful for the support he has provided over time. It can also be vital to make clear that our decision not to permit Israeli or Palestine flags into Wembley Stadium was made on the direct request of senior members of the Jewish community.”
The FA announced plans on Thursday for players to wear black armbands and for those contained in the stadium to look at a period of silence “to recollect the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine”.
The decision to not light up the arch in Israeli colors was even criticised by the Cabinet minister chargeable for sport, Lucy Frazer, in a social media post on Thursday.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism has called on the FA and the Premier League to also specifically condemn the Hamas attacks.
In a letter from the CAA’s chief executive Gideon Falter to his counterparts on the FA and the Premier League on Friday, he wrote: “To decline to light up the stadium for fear of backlash is cowardly.
“It broadcasts to terrorists that their objective – to stoke terror – has succeeded.
“To prohibit the flying of Israeli flags by fans in solidarity with the victims is an abomination. To put out a pitiful statement, because the FA has done, lamenting the ‘devastating events’ without having the integrity to call the cause – as if the deaths got here about from a tragic natural disaster – is insulting.
“As if in some dramatic restatement of its values, the FA says that it ‘stands for humanity and an end to the death, violence, fear and suffering’. Prove it.
“From our vantage point, it doesn’t appear that the FA is standing in any respect: it’s sitting on its hands.
“It is time for the FA and the Premier League to sentence the Hamas terrorist attacks explicitly and without reservation, and lightweight up the stadium to broadcast that Jewish victims deserve the identical treatment as others.
“I don’t need a response to this letter. I’ll simply observe Wembley Stadium tonight and I’ll know whether you stand with Jews or not.”
Football anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said what had happened in Israel and Gaza had “once more provided a reminder of where hatred and discrimination can lead, and the way it could possibly have far-reaching consequences”.
“We stand against hatred and discrimination in all its forms, and we stand by the communities who’re mourning relatives and living in fear,” its statement continued.
“In such times the role of football can offer a release, and produce communities closer together. So this weekend, as all the time, we urge fans, participants, and players in any respect levels to respect one another and their differences.
“We are aware from our partners Community Security Trust and Tell Mama that there have been huge increases in Antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents over the past week.
“Many people will probably be hurting and the last item anyone needs is to feel threatened or discriminated against, irrespective of their background. Therefore, we’re calling for compassion and calm from all those that participate in football and beyond.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has written to his counterparts on the Israeli and Palestinian FAs within the wake of the conflict.
In his letter, he expressed FIFA’s deepest condolences “in light of the horrendous violence that has been occurring over the past days”.
The letter added: “FIFA joins in calling for the immediate end of hostilities and the immediate relief of the suffering of the people of each Israel and Palestine.”
