Former Israeli Footballer Murid Abu Anza Praises Irish Player's Pro-Palestinian Gesture
Murid Abu Anza, a former prominent striker in Israeli football, has sparked controversy by praising an Irish player's on-field gesture. Abu Anza, who played for several Israeli clubs including MS Ashdod and Hapoel Bnei Lod, posted a "Thank you Ireland" message on social media, accompanied by a photo of Irish player Jack Moylan kissing a black armband. Moylan and the Irish team wore black armbands during a recent match, a gesture interpreted by some as a tribute to Palestinians.
This is not the first time Abu Anza has expressed support for Palestinian causes online. Previously, he shared a photo of Lamine Yamal holding a Palestinian flag, congratulating him and the Palestinian people. He also posted an image of Pep Guardiola wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh.
Abu Anza, 39, had a notable career in Israeli football, scoring 123 league goals. He was particularly recognized for his time at Hapoel Bnei Lod, where he scored 72 goals in his first stint and 17 later. He was the top scorer in the National League in the 2011/12 season with 19 goals. He also played in the Premier League for clubs like Maccabi Petah Tikva and MS Ashdod, scoring 4 and 9 league goals respectively.
The former player's recent social media activity has drawn criticism from some within the Israeli football community.
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