When Morocco’s football team defeated Spain in a thrilling World Cup match, the players celebrated on the field by raising a Palestinian flag.
Following Tuesday’s thrilling penalty shootout victory over the Spaniards, Moroccan players were spotted hoisting the Palestinian flag, which has been flying prominently around Qatar during the championships. Banners, flags, and flyers that are of a “political, provocative, and/or discriminatory nature” are not permitted to be displayed, according to FIFA regulations. The displays of the Palestinian flag inside stadiums have previously resulted in penalties from the organizations that oversee the sport. After Morocco’s squad defeated Canada last week in the group stage, the players also waved the Palestinian flag.
Morocco advances to quarter-finals for first time after beating Spain 3-0 in penalty shootout.
Morocco is the only team from outside Europe or South America to make it to the last eight in this World Cup. Here’s how Moroccan fans are celebrating the historic win pic.twitter.com/S9JQ75LHBa
— TRT World (@trtworld) December 6, 2022
Qatar, the host nation for the World Cup, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and has long backed the Palestinians’ quest for independence. In Qatar, which has a population of over 2.9 million people, the majority of whom are foreigners, there are about 250,000 Palestinians. Additionally, cheers were heard in Tunis, Beirut, Baghdad, Ramallah, and other places as Arabs celebrated Spain’s mostly unexpected victory. As opposed to the political conflicts that have long divided Arab governments, it echoed the pan-Arab patriotism that has been shown during several great performances by Arab teams at the Qatar World Cup.
After Cameroon in 1990, Nigeria in 1994, and Ghana in 2010, Morocco is the fourth African side to go to the World Cup quarterfinals and the first Arab nation to do so. Arab leaders from throughout the region praised the Moroccan side as well. “We were thrilled by the Atlas lions; congratulations. Morocco, you have certainly done it again!” Jordan’s Queen Rania posted on Twitter. Emir Tamim of Qatar watched the match at the stadium while saluting and waving the Moroccan flag. The Moroccan squad received congratulations from leaders like Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid al Dbeibah, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and Iraqi cleric Moqtada al Sadr.
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