Jacob Rees-Mogg has lamented the “dreadful and disgraceful” decision from the FA (Football Association) to not light up Wembley arch in Israeli colours.
It comes after the authority announced the stadium will no longer light up its arch to show solidarity with countries in the wake of terror attacks and natural disasters.
The body opted not to light up its arch in Israeli colours following the atrocities caused by Hamas in a terror attack on October 7.
This decision was made despite the arch adopting the colours of the flags of countries including France, Turkey and Ukraine within days of attacks.
Jacob Rees-Mogg has blasted the FA
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Speaking on GB News, Rees-Mogg questioned why Israel is different to the others.
“When I was going through this script and now I read this out, it just strikes me as so dreadful and disgraceful”, he said.
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“Considering where they have used colours before, the FA failed to recognise murderous attacks in Israel, why?
“Is it any surprise that in embarrassment and shame, the FA announced its new policy to stop lighting the arch in support of causes.”
GB News political correspondent Nigel Nelson responded by suggesting the body were correct in their move, arguing that football and politics should be separate.
“I think they are right”, he said.
Football chiefs opted against illuminating for the Wembley arch for Israel
GETTY“Football should be about football and not politics. Inevitably you are going to find something that you support that is going to be controversial.”
Rees-Mogg said that while the policy is “absolutely right”, he asked why it was “the one terror attack” the FA opted not to show support for.
Nelson argued that the Israel-Hamas conflict is a “more contentious issue” and the FA should “stay away from politics as much as possible”.
After not lighting up its arch, the FA opted to instead show support for the “innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine” ahead of a men’s international match last month between England and Australia at Wembley.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: "I recognise that our decision caused hurt to the Jewish community who felt that we should have lit the arch and that we should have shown stronger support for them.
"This was one of the hardest decisions we've had to make, and the last thing we ever wanted to do in this situation was to add to the hurt.
"We aren't asking for everyone to agree with our decision, but to understand how we reached it."
