Cup final abandoned over Palestine flag in crowd
A regional cup final was abandoned on Sunday because the venue's management allegedly objected to the presence of Palestine flags in the stands.
Clapton Community Football Club Women were leading 2-0 in the London and South East Regional Women's Football League Trophy final against Dulwich Hamlet Reserves at Maidstone United's Gallagher Stadium when the match was called off.
Clapton said a representative of Maidstone United approached supporters around 20 minutes into the match and demanded they stop waving a Palestinian flag. He also objected to a banner among the Dulwich supporters, which read: 'Show genocide the red card'.
The two teams were offered the opportunity to play on behind closed doors, but Clapton declined. Instead, the club said, both sets of fans then came together 'in solidarity with the Palestinian people, singing more songs and holding up our banners in support of trans women and the Palestine people, respectively.'
In a statement issued on behalf of the team, Clapton said: 'Today, 32 women were denied the opportunity to play the L&SERWFL Trophy final.
'About 20 minutes into the match, both Clapton and Dulwich supporters were approached by a representative of Maidstone United, Gallagher Stadium owners. He demanded that our supporters must stop waving the Palestinian flag, and the Dulwich supporters must take down their banner which read 'Show genocide the red card'.
'After both groups of supporters refused, he called the officials together and communicated that we could not use the ground while both the Palestinian flag and the banner were displayed.
'Our given options were to 1) play the game behind closed doors or 2) to abandon the game. Clapton's players chose to abandon the game. Both sets of fans then came together in solidarity with the Palestinian people, singing more songs and holding up our banners in support of trans women and the Palestine people, respectively.
'Our players and supporters are united in their support and concern for Palestinians who are being bombed daily. Showing that support with a flag or banner is no reason to abandon a cup final.'
Clapton added that the L&SERWFL, which is at the fifth level of the women's football pyramid, has declared the cup final to be void, with both clubs now facing a potential FA disciplinary process.
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