Football
Scotland vs Israel delayed as protester chains himself to goal post ahead of Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier
Scotland Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier against Israel was delayed after a protester chained himself to one of the goal posts.
The match was scheduled to be played behind closed doors due to safety concerns about protests.
But a protester was able to get through security at Hampden Park and chain themselves to the goal post.
The incident delayed kick-off for the game, which was scheduled to start at 7.05pm.
The protester chained themselves to the goal post
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The SFA said previously: “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.”
Hundreds of people gathered outside the stadium before the match demanding the match to be called off over Israel’s ongoing conflict against Palestine.
The pro-Palestine group carried small coffins and taped over their mouths in the wake of an Israeli missile strike in Rafah earlier this week.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, admitted ‘something unfortunately went tragically wrong’ after the missile strike killed dozens of civilians in Gaza.
He added: “In Rafah, we already evacuated about 1 million non-combatant residents, and despite our utmost effort not to harm non-combatants, something unfortunately went tragically wrong.”
Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa was asked for his opinion on the match against Israel being played behind closed doors earlier this week.
He said: “You want to keep the maximum focus on what you can control, and that is the training and the competition. That’s what we are here for.
Kick off was delayed as the man was removed from the goal post
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“But, of course, in any camp when there are circumstances, not only on this occasion, we have always had an initial chat and there are discussions also with the leadership group if there is any concern or any way we need to help the players.
“That has been the process from the first day, to touch on the things that were relevant, and then decide from that moment to try and focus on the aspects that we can control.
“There is a novel part of not showing we are not sensitive to any circumstances. We are. But the other aspect is focusing on what really matters for us when we are representing this badge and performing for Scotland, which is the dream of some of these players since they were little girls.”
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The game was delayed for around 40 minutes
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The game was delayed for around 40 minutes while police and security removed the protester from the goal post.
Scotland have enjoyed a strong start to their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign having picked up four points from their opening two group games.
And they made the perfect start against Israel once the match got underway as they took a two-goal lead inside the opening 30 minutes.
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