Protester chains himself to Hampden goalpost, delays Scotland vs Israel Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier kick-off

Although the Scotland vs Israel Euro qualifier was scheduled to take place behind closed doors, a Gaza protestor managed to sneak into the ground and tied himself to the goalpost, delaying match proceedings.

Security officials handle Gaza protestor interrupting match proceedings at the Hampden Park in Glasgow. (Photo – X)

New Delhi: The Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier between Scotland and Israel started off over half an hour late after a demonstrator avoided security at Glasgow’s Hampden Park and chained himself to a goalpost. Friday’s fixture was scheduled to take place behind closed doors, without any spectators, like the ” “return” match in Hungary on June 4. The decision came in the wake of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

As the players and the match officials remained inside the ground, massive pro-Palestinian protests broke out right outside the ground with people chanting “stop the game” and raising slogans. It soon emerged that somebody had managed to access the arena and chained himself to one of Hampden’s goalposts with a heavy-looking chain around his neck. This was before the scheduled 1805 GMT kickoff.

The demonstrator wore a ‘Red Card For Israel’ T-shirt and was removed before the teams headed out for a second warm-up and the game eventually kicked off at 1836 GMT. Scotland won the match 4-1.

Several campaigning groups which also included Scottish Friends of Palestine protested outside the stadium, criticising the Scottish Football Association over allowing the game to go ahead.

A protestor chained himself to the goalposts ahead of the Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier game between Scotland and Israel at the Hampden Stadium in Glasgow.

He wore a t-shirt that read: “Red card for Israel”. pic.twitter.com/zSyJRGyzx1

— • (@Alhamdhulillaah) May 31, 2024

Massive pro-Palestine protest outside Hampden Park, Glasgow while Scotland Women’ football team faces Israel for Euro 2025 qualifying games. Impose sanctions to Israel-Stop the genocide. pic.twitter.com/E2GXI5iI6c

— Andreas Piperides (@A_Piperides) May 31, 2024

Happening now: Hundreds protesting outside Hampden stadium in Glasgow against the Scotland vs Israel game, which is being held behind closed doors pic.twitter.com/pyDSFt8Zes

— Hassan Ghani (@hassan_ghani) May 31, 2024

Brilliant national demonstration in Scotland today in solidarity with Palestine.

Stop Israel’s slaughter of Gaza – and stop the West’s support for these crimes against humanity!

Free Palestine 🇵🇸#CeasefireNowpic.twitter.com/L7kPphc3ZY

— Fiona Edwards (@Fio_edwards) December 2, 2023

SFA’s plan to avoid disruptions

“Due to updated intelligence and following extensive security consultations with all key parties, the Scottish FA regrets to confirm that the forthcoming qualifier between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park on May 31 will now be played behind closed doors. The stadium operations team were alerted to the potential for planned disruptions to the match and as a consequence, we have no option but to play the match without supporters in attendance,” SFA had said.

The Israel-Gaza conflict was sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel which led to the deaths of 1,189 people, mainly civilians according to the tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel’s retaliation has killed at least 36,284 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.