‘Show Israel the red card’ – support growing to expel Israel from international soccer competition

Celtic fans display a banner stating ‘show Israel the red card’ during a game.

Rachel Fink reports in Haaretz on 25 February 2025:

On Monday night, at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium in Seville, Spain, hundreds of “Biris,” ultra fans of local soccer team Sevilla FC, stood up at their usual seats in the Gol Norte section of the stands and held poster-sized red placards over their heads. They symbolized the penalty cards that soccer referees display when players are ejected from the game for serious misconduct. In a choreographed display known as a tifo – originally shorthand from Italian for fans – Sevilla supporters then unveiled a huge banner that read, “Show Israel the Red Card.”

The demonstration was part of a decade-old protest movement that over the last two weeks has gained renewed traction. Fan clubs around the world have been calling on professional soccer associations to “Show Israel the Red Card,” or in other words, eject Israeli teams from international sports leagues.

According to Adam Lahav, founder of Fussball, a Hebrew-language blog and podcast about German soccer, who is a bona fide tifo expert, the latest round of red card protests began with the Green Brigade, the staunchly pro-Palestinian ultras soccer fan club for the Scottish team Celtic, based in Glasgow.

“The Green Brigade already has a long history of Palestinian-related tifos, dating back to the group’s origins. It was founded by immigrants from the impoverished Irish community in Glasgow,” Lahav explained. “Green Brigade members have always felt a natural connection to the Palestinian struggle for independence and civil rights.”

“At a recent game against Bayern Munich, the ultra fans initiated a red card protest and then shared it on their Instagram stories. Since then, other fan groups, have taken up the cause, which the Green Brigade has also platformed on its social media platforms,” he said.

The game to which Lahav was referring to took place on February 12 at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Celtic was hosting Bayern Munich for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff round, a game that the German team would go on to win 2-1.

But the real action took place at the top of the second half, when Green Brigade members unfurled their “Show Israel the Red Card” sign. Hundreds of others held up the movement’s signature red placards. On those particular posters, the ultras called on fans both at Celtic Park and in stadiums around the world to join their cause.

“Show Israel the Red Card to send a direct message to UEFA [the Union of European Football Associations] and FIFA [the International Federation of Association Football] to apply their respective statutes and suspend ‘Israel’ from competition,” the crimson-color leaflet read. “By doing so, you will not only be doing the right thing but you will be joining football fans of conscience and courage around the world who will be adopting the same message.”

Their plan seems to have worked. In just the past week and a half, red card protests have taken place at soccer matches in Spain, Italy, Malaysia, Tunisia, Britain, France, Greece and Turkey. According to the advocacy group Sporting Palestine, 72 other teams across 25 countries and six continents have all had similar tifos displayed during their games.

While there is certainly a red card resurgence taking place now, the movement is not new. The idea dates back to 2011, when members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of al-Aqsa and Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods launched a joint campaign in London called Red Card Israeli Racism. According to an article posted on the official website of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, the initiative really gained momentum in 2013 as the UEFA’s under-21 men’s football final in Israel was approaching and BDS sought to challenge Israel’s membership.

Ultimately, the association proceeded with the competition, but Red Card Israeli Racism obtained high-profile support, including statements from prominent players and frequent protests at UEFA’s headquarters. Around the United Kingdom, activists organized public meetings, demonstrations and a petition, which quickly attracted more than 8,000 signatures.

Mahmoud Sarsak, a former Palestinian detainee and Palestinian national team player, embarked on a European tour to rally support, as the campaign sought to expand through partnerships with anti-racism organizations, trade unions and human rights groups. As part of the broader BDS movement, Red Card Israeli Racism began to push for a boycott of Israel across all sports, rather than just soccer.

Over the years, the movement has taken on different iterations, with campaigns popping up across Europe and Asia, with varying degrees of success. In 2014, after significant Red Card pressure, UEFA rejected an Israeli bid to host games during the 2020 European Championships and as recently as December of last year, the major apparel brand Puma ended its sponsorship deal with the Israel Football Association.

The Red Card tifos of the past two weeks are part of the general trend of ultra groups leading pro-Palestinian protests in stadiums worldwide, a phenomenon that has surged since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as cheering sections became a focal point for political expression. But despite growing global support for the idea that Israel should leave the field, at least two teams are contesting the penalty call.

At a recent game between Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Maccabi Netanya, Israeli fans displayed a tifo of their own. The large banners, referring to October 7, 2023, with the day and then the month, read: CHECKING POSSIBLE RED CARD. NEVER FORGET 7/10. DECISION: NO RED CARD.

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