Liverpool fan hits out after 'Free Palestine' hoodie and flag removed at Anfield
A Liverpool supporter has said he feels like "never coming back" to Anfield after claiming a Palestinian flag and hoodie were taken from him during Thursday's Europa League match against Toulouse.
Liverpool issued a statement before the game telling fans Israeli and Palestinian flags should not be taken into the stadium. The club state the ruling is independent of the Reds' existing flag policy and those nation's flags were specifically mentioned.
The supporter in question, who claims to travel up to three hours to attend home games, made reference to fans previously being allowed to bring Ukrainian flags into the stadium amid Russia's invasion of the country in 2022. Mirror Football has contacted Liverpool for comment over the comments of the fan, who uses the handle '@lfcrazz' on social media.
"For the 2023/24 Season, there have been a few important updates regarding your matchday experience which are outlined below," an email sent to Liverpool fans by the club read (per The Echo ). "Please read carefully before you head to the match.
"In addition to Anfield's long standing flag policy, and following consultation with safety and security experts, it has been determined that Israeli and Palestinian flags should not be permitted to be displayed at football matches for the foreseeable future and the same approach can be applied to other displays, banners, clothing or scarves identified as pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian or related to the current crisis."
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The fan in question says he was wearing a hoodie bearing the message 'Free Palestine'. He also claims one Palestinian flag was removed from his possession, while he had additional flags with him but didn't take them out.
"Last night the club that I’ve adored since I was 5 has broken me, everything I thought we stood for felt like a farce so much for YNWA and freedom of speech, I travel up 3 hours every home game even when I can’t get a ticket just to be in the city for [the] game," the fan wrote. "At this moment of time I feel like never coming back, all I did was show solidarity to my people who have and are being killed every day for many decades now, in no way does the Palestine flag represent what Hamas did the other week neither do I commend it.
"I found it really odd our fans were allowed to stand with Ukraine and bring those flags in, as well as club itself selling LFC X Ukraine merchandise in the club shop but when I held up a Palestine flag during YNWA a bunch of stewards rushed me like I had a weapon on me? When I was escorted out the flag was grabbed out of my hand and was told to take the hoodie off or leave the club?
"Police were then involved and my details and seat number was taken and was told to collect my stuff at the end of the game. I was then taken back to my seat in that freezing weather with a t shirt on, I did have another two flags on me which I decided against getting out as the whole situation left a sour taste in my mouth I just wanted the game to be over with so I could get the coach home.
"However what hurt the most was the fact not single fellow Liverpool fan tried to intervene or help me fight my case but happily watched," the fan continued. "I asked the guy next to me if he wanted to hold the flag with me and he looked at me like I called him the most derogatory name possible?"
Liverpool won the match 5-1 to preserve their 100 percent record in Europe. Five different players found the net for the Reds, including a first goal for the club for Wataru Endo.
Jurgen Klopp's game are at home again this weekend, welcoming Nottingham Forest to Anfield on Sunday. After that they have three straight away matches, before hosting Brentford on November 12.
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