Farage in stinging attack on football chiefs for refusing to light up Wembley for Israel - 'Pure cowardice'
Nigel Farage has blasted the FA
PA / GB NEWS
GB News presenter Nigel Farage has slammed the FA for refusing to illuminate the Wembley arch in a show of solidarity for Israel.
Earlier on Thursday it emerged that there would be a period of silence before England's clash with Australia on Friday night.
Players will also wear black armbands to remember the victims of the conflict in the Middle East.
Hamas terrorists attacked Israel over the weekend and it has since emerged there have been over 1,200 deaths so far.
The Wembley Stadium arch will not be lit in colours of Israeli flag.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) October 12, 2023
The cowards that run the FA should be ashamed of this decision. pic.twitter.com/cAnravgRgX
And Farage has now torn into the FA for their decision, saying it shows 'cowardice' while also branding the association 'hypocrites'.
He said on social media: "So our Football Association loves to present their manners, their pride, doing the right thing all the time.
"So the arch at Wembley it puts up the French flag when France is under attack, the Turkish attack when they are under attack, the Ukraine flag when they were under attack and, of course, when the World Cup was going on in Qatar, the LGBTQ+ flag went up.
"Because we're good people, we're nice people, we're great people.
"Until it comes to the jews. And then no one cares because they refuse to put up the Israel flag, despite what Hamas has done there over the course of the past five days.
"This is pure cowardice.
"They're obviously worried about the local population, living in that area.
"And all of it says one thing.
"All this wonderful talk we have about diversity, how wonderful it is, well if this is multi-culturalism, if we're so scared of these extremists that celebrate terror on the streets of London then we're in a bad place.
"I'm sorry to the FA, you can take the knee all you like.
"But this makes you total, utter hypocrites."
The FA made the decision because they fear a backlash in some communities.
There have been protests in London during the week with Israeli and Palestinian supporters rallying while the conflict goes on.
Hamas started their attacks on Israel on Saturday, with many seeing it as a turning point amid the war.
Hostages have been taken back into Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing 'mighty vengeance'.
Israel have since responded with missile strikes of their own.
The FA said in a statement that they would 'remember the innocent victims of the devastating attacks'.
"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," they added.
"We stand for humanity and an end to the death, violence, fear and suffering."
Officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport penned a letter to major sports governing bodies on Wednesday asking them to mark the attacks in Israel with shows of support for the victims.
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Football chiefs have opted against illuminating for the Wembley arch for Israel
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The letter read: "In the light of the attacks in Israel, on behalf of the secretary of state we would encourage you to mark the events appropriately in line with previous events where sport has come together."
Supporters won't be able to bring in Israeli or English flags for Friday's match at Wembley.
Instead, only 'flags, replica kits and other representations of nationality for competing nations' would be permitted inside the ground.
England last met Australia back in 2016.
And they ran out 2-1 winners that day thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney, who both played for Manchester United at the time.