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.



Alcaraz Apologizes on Social Media for Destroying Racket

Aug 16, 2024; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smashes his racket during his match against Gael Monfils of France on day five of the Cincinnati Open. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2024; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smashes his racket during his match against Gael Monfils of France on day five of the Cincinnati Open. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
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Alcaraz Apologizes on Social Media for Destroying Racket

Aug 16, 2024; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smashes his racket during his match against Gael Monfils of France on day five of the Cincinnati Open. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2024; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smashes his racket during his match against Gael Monfils of France on day five of the Cincinnati Open. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Carlos Alcaraz has apologized for his behavior during Friday afternoon’s loss to Gael Monfils at the Cincinnati Open.
During the third set, Alcaraz destroyed his racket by repeatedly smashing it on the court in a rare show of frustration for the four-time Grand Slam winner. The No. 3 player in the ATP rankings lost 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to the 37-year-old Monfils.
Posting in Spanish on X on Saturday, Alcaraz said his attitude was not correct, and his actions should not have been done on the court, The Associated Press reported. The 21-year-old added that it's difficult to control yourself when your heart rate is high, and he will work to ensure it doesn't happen again.
Alcaraz was playing his first match since earning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics after losing to Novak Djokovic, who also beat him last year in the Cincinnati final.
“I felt like it was the worst match that I’ve ever played on my career,” Alcaraz said Friday. “I’ve been practicing really well. I was feeling great. But I couldn’t play. I want to forget it and try to move on to New York.”