United Kingdom Government Criticizes FA’s Decision on Wembley Arch Lighting

The United Kingdom government has expressed its criticism of the English Football Association’s (FA) decision not to illuminate the iconic Wembley Stadium arch in the colors of Israel for the upcoming friendly match against Australia. In a statement, the FA revealed that the game would feature both teams wearing black armbands and a moment of silence before kickoff to pay tribute to the victims of recent events in the region. Additionally, there would be support for the Red Cross appeal aimed at assisting those affected by the ongoing conflict.

However, in contrast to previous occasions when the Wembley arch was lit up in solidarity with various causes, including Ukraine’s colors after the Russian invasion, the French flag following terrorist attacks in 2015, and Turkish colors after another terrorist incident, the arch would not be illuminated in Israel’s colors for this particular event.

The FA stated, “On Friday evening, we will remember the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine. Our thoughts are with them, and their families and friends in England and Australia and with all the communities who are affected by this ongoing conflict. We stand for humanity and an end to the death, violence, fear, and suffering.”

The conflict in the region escalated as Hamas, an Islamist militant group governing Gaza, launched a deadly attack on Israel, prompting Israel to formally declare war on Hamas. This ongoing conflict has resulted in more than 2,500 casualties on both sides and has left thousands injured.

Despite the FA’s decision, it was later revealed that any flags and replica kits representing Israel and Palestine would be prohibited at Wembley. In response to this, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer expressed her disappointment with the FA’s choice not to illuminate the Wembley Stadium arch, emphasizing the government’s support for Israel. She wrote, “It is especially disappointing in light of the FA’s bold stance on other terrorist attacks in the recent past. Words and actions matter. The Government is clear: we stand with Israel.”

Prior to this, the British government had advised the FA to “mark the events appropriately in line with previous events where sport has come together.” This advice was conveyed in a letter sent to various UK sporting bodies by Frazer.

Sources from ESPN suggest that one factor influencing the decision not to light the arch was the fact that Australia, the opponents in the upcoming match, have a World Cup qualifier against Palestine next month.

When asked about the FA’s decision, Gareth Southgate, the manager of the England national team, expressed his condolences for the victims of the attacks, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. He stated, “On a broader scale, in my lifetime, it is one of the most complex situations in the world, and I think everybody is grappling with how best to deal with that. I don’t know what it is like to walk in the shoes of people on either side of that conflict.”

Southgate recognized the difficulties faced by the FA in making their decision, stating, “They have decided to take the stance they have, and we will get on with that.”