Clashes Erupt at Pro-Palestinian March Ahead of Italy vs Israel World Cup Qualifier

Udine, October 15: Tensions flared in the northern Italian city of Udine on Tuesday as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched ahead of Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Israel, resulting in clashes with police. The protest, largely peaceful at first, drew an estimated 5,000 participants who made their way through the city centre in the late afternoon before the match kicked off at Friuli Stadium, where Italy secured a 3-0 victory. Organisers, the Committee for Palestine-Udine, called on FIFA to ban Israel from international competitions, accusing the team of supporting occupation policies in Palestinian territories. Demonstrators carried an 18-metre Palestinian flag and a large red banner reading “Show Israel the red card.” A metal statue symbolising justice was displayed, holding scales in one hand and a red card in the other. Valentina Bianchi, one of the demonstrators, said, “There has been a ceasefire, but not peace. As I wrote on my placard, there can be no peace without justice.” Despite a recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which included the release of remaining Israeli hostages and return of Palestinian prisoners, organisers pressed ahead with the protest. Clashes occurred at the end of the march when some participants threw firecrackers and crowd control barriers at anti-riot police, who responded with water cannons and tear gas. State broadcaster RAI reported that one of its journalists was injured by a stone and taken to hospital, while Ansa news agency said a second journalist and several police officers also received medical attention. Udine Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni condemned the violence, stating, “What happened tonight is unacceptable. Our city strongly condemns the violence that took place in the streets at the end of the demonstration.” Authorities had put extensive security measures in place ahead of the match. The Italian soccer federation sold just over 9,000 tickets for the game, below the stadium’s reduced capacity of 16,000. Concrete barriers were installed around the stadium, roads were closed, parking restrictions enforced, and shops in the city either kept shutters down or closed early to prevent damage. Additional measures included bans on serving food or drink in glass, ceramic, or tin containers, and restrictions on outdoor furniture near public establishments. Some residents expressed discomfort with the heavy security presence in their usually quiet city. “I saw helicopters flying over my head. I believe such a deployment of forces for a football match should never take place,” said local resident Paolo Lizzi. The protest highlights ongoing tensions in Europe regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, as well as concerns over public safety during politically charged demonstrations. While the march began peacefully, the confrontations with police underscore the challenges of balancing freedom of expression with maintaining order during major public events. Despite the clashes, the football match went ahead, and Italy emerged with a decisive win. Clashes Break Out at Pro-Palestinian March Before Italy vs Israel Match Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched through Udine on Tuesday ahead of Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Israel, leading to clashes with police. The demonstration, attended by around 5,000 people, initially remained peaceful, featuring an 18-metre Palestinian flag and banners reading “Show Israel the red card.” Violence erupted at the end when some participants threw firecrackers and barriers, prompting police to respond with water cannons and tear gas. Several journalists and officers were injured. Authorities had implemented strict security measures, including road closures and stadium barriers. Despite the unrest, the match went ahead, and Italy won 3-0.