Tasmanian Football Body Bans Palestinian Team Over Slogan

The Football Federation of Tasmania has banned a Palestinian futsal team from playing in jerseys bearing the slogan "From the river to the sea, it always was and always will be." The decision sparked protests from players on other teams, who wore similar shirts in solidarity with the banned team. The federation's CEO stated that while the team could wear jerseys of the Palestinian national team, the specific slogan was prohibited due to the league's rules against political messages on uniforms.

The Palestinian team, whose jerseys were designed by player Fares Shaheen, forfeited a 3-0 technical loss on October 11 after refusing to remove the shirts. On the following Sunday, two other teams in the six-team league also wore the shirts in protest. These teams were also not permitted to play, and after federation representatives left the field, the players held a friendly match. Shaheen claimed the team had played several previous games with the shirts without issue until a complaint led to a demand to cover the slogan.

Hugh Nicholson, who participated in the protest, expressed support, saying the team was being treated unfairly. Shaheen, whose family resides in Gaza, described the slogan as a humanitarian message and cultural expression, intended to highlight a connection between Palestinians and Tasmania's Indigenous Palawa people. The slogan "From the river to the sea" refers to the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, encompassing Israel, and is controversial due to its perceived call for Israel's elimination, a interpretation Shaheen rejected.

He emphasized that any team displaying a political message on its jerseys would not be allowed to play, and even partial slogans would be prohibited. Nicholson mentioned having previously played in the competition with a "It always was, it always will be" shirt without incident.