A women’s football cup final in London was abandoned after the host venue demanded supporters remove Palestine solidarity displays, sparking widespread condemnation on social media and highlighting football’s growing role in Palestinian advocacy.

London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Trophy final between Clapton CFC Women’s First Team and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves was called off with Clapton leading 2-0.

It is believed that Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium objected to a Palestine flag among Clapton’s supporters and an anti-genocide banner displayed by Dulwich Hamlet fans.

Both sets of supporters indicated that they did not wish to remove their flag/banner and the officials decided the game could not continue.

The incident comes amid an increasing display of Palestinian solidarity across football, from grassroots to elite levels.  

This weekend, presenter Gary Lineker fronted his last Match of the Day programme after being forced out of his role following his pro-Palestinian stance.

The tipping point for Lineker came when he shared an anti-Zionist post that contained a rat emoji inconspicuously beneath some text while a woman spoke about Zionism. The rat is considered an antisemitic trope by some.

When Lineker realised the context, he immediately apologised and took down the post, stating he hadn’t noticed the rat emoji nor understood its potential connotation.

Widespread support for teams and fans

According to statements from Clapton, approximately 20 minutes into the match, a representative from Maidstone United approached crowd and demanded the removal of the Palestine flag and a banner reading “Show genocide the red card.”

When both sets of supporters refused to comply, league officials stopped the game. They informed players and coaches that the ground could not be used while the displays remained visible.

“Both sets of fans then came together in solidarity with the Palestinian people, singing more songs and holding up our banners in support of trans women and the Palestine people, respectively,” said a statement from Clapton players.

“Our players and fans are united in their support and concern for Palestinians who are being bombed daily. Showing that support with a flag or banner is no reason to abandon a cup final.”

The league offered to complete the match behind closed doors, but Clapton’s players rejected the proposal. Officials subsequently said the cup final is void and will not be replayed or awarded to either finalist. 

There was widespread support on social media, with many praising the fans and players for refusing to compromise their principles despite the cost of losing their cup final.

Players defend right to show solidarity

The Dulwich Hamlet fan group Pepper Army released their own statement “unequivocally” supporting both sets of supporters “who refused to bend to the demands of final hosts Maidstone United FC, and every player who refused to play if the flags and banners were removed.”

“The facts in Gaza are clear and widely accepted: the death toll in Gaza since October 2023 is estimated to be over 54,000; a united Nations Special Committee and Amnesty International have both concluded that the state of Israel is perpetuating a genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza; this week the UK government issued a joint statement with the leaders of France and Canada calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza,” the statement added.

The Dulwich supporters’ statement placed their actions within a broader historical context of sport as a vehicle for political protest against human rights abuses.

“Sport has long played an important role in putting pressure on governments perpetrating human rights abuses, from South Africa during the apartheid era to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Those who argue that political protest does not belong in sport are either ignorant or are deliberately ignoring that history. “

It added: “We don’t protest at our games because we think one protest in a regional football competition will change what is happening in Gaza. But we do it knowing that every protest joins a drumbeat of defiance that is slowly convincing the world it cannot ignore the daily murders perpetuated by the state of Israel.  We are, for the avoidance of any doubt, against genocide, against anti-Semitism, against Islamophobia, and against prejudice in all its forms. “

Image credit: Clapton FC