The Ireland Under-17 women’s soccer team did not turn their backs as Israel’s national anthem played before a match on Feb. 23, spokespeople from both countries’ soccer associations, as well as Europe’s soccer governing body UEFA, told Reuters.
Since-deleted footage posted online by Al Jazeera Sports, opens new tab, shared by other social media users, opens new tab, shows Irish players with their backs turned on the pitch as the Israeli anthem plays. Their Israeli opponents are seen facing the camera.
“In solidarity with Palestine, the players of the Irish under-17 women’s football team turn their backs while the Israeli anthem is played, before their match in the qualifiers for the European Championship 2024,” Al Jazeera Sports captioned the video in Arabic.
Ireland won 3-0 in the UEFA European Women’s U-17 Championship, opens new tab qualifier against Israel on Feb. 23.
There is, however, no evidence that the Irish team turned their backs as Israel’s anthem played ahead of kick-off.
The event was streamed live on YouTube, opens new tab by the soccer association in Albania, where the match was played, and shows the Irish players facing the camera along with their Israeli opponents during the Israeli national anthem, before clapping and turning to face the other direction as the Irish anthem begins.
TURNING TO THE TRICOLOUR
Europe’s soccer governing body UEFA, as well as spokespersons for Ireland and Israel’s soccer associations, told Reuters separately that the Irish players only turned around during the Irish anthem. This was so they could face the Irish flag, which was positioned in the stand behind them, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said.
UEFA’s press office added that the Irish players also turned toward their flag ahead of their Feb. 20 match against Albania, opens new tab, the livestream for which is also available on YouTube, opens new tab.
In a statement shared with Reuters via email, the FAI said: “Both teams were facing in the same direction during the Israeli national anthem before the Ireland team turned to face the tricolour, as is tradition amongst many Irish teams, for the playing of Amhrán na bhFiann.”
An Israel Football Association (IFA) spokesperson told Reuters via WhatsApp that the Ireland players respected the Israel national anthem.
The IFA spokesperson said the game “was played in the most respectful and appropriate manner on the part of both teams.”
Al Jazeera Sports did not respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
VERDICT
Altered. The livestream shows the Irish players facing the same direction as their Israeli opponents while the Israeli anthem plays. They turn to face the opposite way as the Irish anthem begins, which UEFA and the FAI said was so they could face the Irish flag.
