Israel’s dreams of automatically qualifying for the World Cup were dashed. Their most recent match was a 2-0 loss to Italy in a qualifier. The match itself at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome was historic for much more than what was happening between the white lines. Off the pitch, an anti-Zionism wave sparked a wave of unrest as pro-Palestine protests erupted in Palestinian territories and around the world.
The tension escalated as supporters of Palestine gathered outside the stadium, voicing their opposition to Israel’s actions in the region. Undeterred, as the match went on, the protests grew larger and more disruptive, forcing authorities to act. Riot police were sent in to control the protests, using tear gas and with water cannons to break up the protesters. The Indian authorities’ effort here to keep the peace in a highly inflamed environment may be overlooked.
Italy’s win over Israel proved to be a crucial turnaround in the match. Not only did this victory extinguish Israel’s dreams of automatic World Cup qualification, their path to Qatar was dismantled. The loss represents the greatest disappointment ever suffered by the Israeli national team. Their goal had been to clinch their place in the glamorous tournament. The result not only determines the team’s immediate future, but echoes through the fans that had organized their support in a last-ditch effort.
The protests cutting across this high-stakes geopolitical football game made them one of the best examples of how to unite sports and politics. Demonstrators made it clear that the war in Ukraine is affecting everyone, highlighting a key issue of how international crises seep into the world of sports. Riot police are present and prepared to respond. Their presence combined with the use of crowd control measures illustrates how seriously authorities seem to be taking the threat of unrest.
