English Football Association to Honor Israeli, Palestinian Victims at Wembley Stadium

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup Final - Manchester City v Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - June 3, 2023 General view inside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup Final - Manchester City v Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - June 3, 2023 General view inside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
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English Football Association to Honor Israeli, Palestinian Victims at Wembley Stadium

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup Final - Manchester City v Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - June 3, 2023 General view inside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FA Cup Final - Manchester City v Manchester United - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - June 3, 2023 General view inside the stadium before the match Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs/File Photo

The English Football Association will pay tribute to the victims of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict when England hosts Australia in a friendly match at Wembley Stadium on Friday.

"On Friday evening, we will remember the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine," the FA said in a statement.

Plans, however, do not include lighting up the national stadium's iconic arch in the colors of Israel's flag, despite increasing calls to do so, it said.

The England and Australia teams will wear black armbands and observe a moment of silence before kick off.

“We stand for humanity and an end to the death, violence, fear and suffering,” the FA said.

The soccer body also said it would only permit “flags, replica kits and other representations of nationality” for the nations competing on Friday. The same rules will apply when England hosts Italy in a European Championship qualifier on Tuesday.
Wembley's arch has been lit up in the past in the colors of Ukraine's flag after it was invaded by Russia and in the colors of Brazil when soccer great Pele died.



Al Hilal Crush Al Nassr 4-1 to Clinch Saudi Super Cup

Al-Hilal claims Saudi Super Cup title with 4-1 victory over Al-Nassr. (SPA)
Al-Hilal claims Saudi Super Cup title with 4-1 victory over Al-Nassr. (SPA)
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Al Hilal Crush Al Nassr 4-1 to Clinch Saudi Super Cup

Al-Hilal claims Saudi Super Cup title with 4-1 victory over Al-Nassr. (SPA)
Al-Hilal claims Saudi Super Cup title with 4-1 victory over Al-Nassr. (SPA)

Al Hilal clinched the Saudi Super Cup trophy by coming from a goal down to crush Al Nassr 4-1 on Saturday, with all four of their goals coming in a dominant second half.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored Al Nassr’s only goal a minute before the end of the first half, in which there were few chances, when he capitalized on a wonderful pass from Abd El Rahaman Ghareeb.
Al Hilal dominated after the interval with Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Malcom taking it in turns to score to make the victory secure.
Milinkovic-Savic scored the equalizer in the 55th minute after exchanging passes with Mitrovic, firing a powerful shot into Al Nassr's net.
Al Hilal took the lead eight minutes later when Mitrovic rose to meet a perfect cross from Ruben Neves and headed the ball in from close range.
The Serbian striker then extended Al Hilal’s lead when he received a pass from Brazilian Malcom in the 69th minute and fired the ball straight into the net.
The Brazilian striker scored Al Hilal’s fourth goal three minutes later when he took advantage of Al Nassr goalkeeper Pinto’s error in controlling the ball after a pass from Aymeric Laporte to fire it home with ease.
Al Hilal won the title for the second time in a row and the fifth time in their history and remain the most successful team in the championship, three titles ahead of Al Nassr.