Paul Pogba will face no sanctions for displaying a Palestinian flag in the aftermath of Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Fulham.
This is because clubs will face no punishment for players or fans displaying Israeli or Palestinian flags during the last week of the Premier League season, The Athletic understands.
Wesley Fofana and Hamza Choudhury also displayed a Palestinian flag after Leicester’s FA Cup final win against Chelsea on Saturday. A number of players have expressed solidarity with the state amid the current conflict in the middle east.
It is understood the FA does not punish players for displaying the flag of a nation after a game. This will also apply to fans returning to stadiums in midweek and at the weekend. Clubs will also not be punished.
The Manchester United midfielder was seen carrying a Palestine flag after full-time of United’s fixture against Fulham.
It was the first game back with supporters at Old Trafford since the government’s easing of lockdown restrictions — with 10,000 fans in attendance.
Pogba was seen raising the flag after the match, holding it alongside United teenager Amad Diallo.
Fofana and Choudhury carried a Palestinian flag around the Wembley pitch on Saturday evening. Choudhury wore his as he collected his medal.
In the last week, the situation in Israel and Palestine has deteriorated. Weeks of tension in East Jerusalem led to clashes at a holy site revered by Muslims and Jews.
Hamas, who control Gaza, fired rockets into Israel after warning the nation to withdraw from the site. Israel has retaliated with rocket strikes into the UN-recognised state.
The official death toll in Gaza now stands at 197 people while ten have been killed in rocket attacks on Israel since last Monday.
In 2016, Scottish side Celtic were punished for flying a Palestinian flag during a Champions League match against Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
They were fined £8,616, although that was by European governing body UEFA. It has no remit for punishments over Premier League games.
Punishments for those would fall to the FA. While the Premier League has a rule against players displaying any messages, political or otherwise, on undergarments during games, this does not apply generally.
Both the Israeli and Palestinian flags are considered national flags by the FA and the organisation is understood not to punish players, fans or clubs for displaying these around games.
There is significant scope for flags of both Israel and Palestine to be displayed this week.
Celtic supporters already have — ahead of their final home match last Wednesday, they placed Palestinian flags in some sections of Celtic Park which were later removed by the club. And this week, English fans will return to stadiums for the first time in months for the final two rounds of Premier League fixtures.
Each club will play one game in front of their supporters, either during the midweek round of fixtures on Tuesday or Wednesday, or on Sunday.
Players traditionally partake in a lap of honour at the end of the last game of the season, which could see flags displayed.
And supporters would also be able to take flags of both Israel and Palestine into grounds this weekend without facing any punishment.
(Photo: John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
⚖️ The points are shared in our final home game of the season.
🔴 #MUFC | #️⃣ #MUNFUL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) May 18, 2021
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