31 October 2023 , 09:19
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Leicester City star Hamza Choudhury has apologised for "any offence he has caused" after a social media post interpreted as a support of Palestine.
The midfielder wrote "From river to sea" with an image of a Palestinian flag on Twitter. Some critics claim the phrase can be read as the destruction of Israel, but other pro-Palestinian protestors disagree. The 26-year-old has not deleted the post but has put out an apology for anyone offended.
He wrote: "It was and is not my intention to cause offence to anyone but simply to show compassion for the innocent people that are suffering. I'm sorry for any offence this has caused. I share the hope of people around the world that a peaceful resolution can bring an end to the ongoing suffering of innocent people in this conflict."
The FA is aware of the original post by Choudhury and is reportedly considering whether it breaches any regulations, which could leave the Foxes star in hot water if they choose to take action. The FA have already been criticised for their stance on the war after choosing not to light up the Wembley arch in the colours of Israel when England last played.
Championship leaders Leicester said: "We have discussed the matter with Hamza, and shared our concerns that views expressed in this manner - without sufficient context on a deeply nuanced and sensitive topic - are open to misinterpretation, which risks unintentional offence among sections of our communities.
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"The thoughts of Leicester City Football Club remain with all the innocent victims of the tragic events unfolding in Israel and Palestine, their families and the communities affected."
Celtic fans showed their support for Palestine during their game against Atletico Madrid last week (SNS Group)The Premier League are keen to avoid stirring up any negative emotions as individuals take sides amid the conflict. They urged clubs to ban fans bringing flags to games - something several clubs opted to do.
This interpretation of the phrase used by Choudhury is the subject of debate by some pro-Palestinian activists. They say that the majority of people chanting it are calling for an end to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza, not the destruction of Israel itself.
On Monday, Andy McDonald was suspended as a Labour MP with the party saying he had made "deeply offensive" comments relating to the Israel-Gaza war. The MP for Middlesbrough used the phrase in a speech at a pro-Palestinian rally.