Italy fans turn their backs as Israel anthem plays at UEFA Nations League

Italian football fans turn their backs as the Israeli anthem plays at the start of the UEFA Nations League Group Match 2024 at Bozsik Arena Stadium in Budapest, Hungary, on September 9, 2024 [Giacomo Cosua/NurPhoto via Getty Images]

Italian fans turned their backs in protest as the Israeli national anthem played ahead of the Italy versus Israel UEFA Nations League match yesterday.

Italy went on to win the game 2-1 at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest. The match was moved to the Hungarian capital due to security concerns in Israel.

The Italian municipality of Udine, where the next match between the teams is scheduled to be held on 14 October, previously expressed reluctance to host the game due to security concerns and political sensitivities surrounding the Israeli onslaught on Palestinians.

Israel’s war on Gaza, now approaching its one-year mark, has claimed the lives of approximately 41,100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and left nearly 94,800 injured, according to local health authorities.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its actions in the Gaza Strip.

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