UEFA has reprimanded FC Midtjylland winger Aral Şimşir for a pro-Palestinian remark made during a Europa League match against Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv but found no evidence to support claims of more inflammatory comments, the Danish club said Tuesday.
The disciplinary action followed allegations that Şimşir shouted "Free Palestine" and "I hope you die" at Maccabi players during a heated confrontation.
According to Midtjylland, UEFA’s investigation confirmed Şimşir admitted to saying "Free Palestine" while heading to the locker room at halftime, prompting a formal reprimand. However, both Şimşir and the club denied the claim that he wished harm on opponents, calling it "baseless" and unsupported by referees, officials or UEFA observers.
Midtjylland, the Danish Superliga champions, said in a statement they had refrained from commenting earlier out of respect for UEFA’s investigation and the "sensitive political context." However, the club rejected Maccabi Tel Aviv’s interpretation of events as inaccurate, alleging that Şimşir had been the target of "severe political provocations" related to his Turkish heritage and the Middle East conflict during the first half.
"While this does not excuse his reaction, it provides context," the statement said, adding, "Soccer should unite, not divide."
Midtjylland’s sporting director, Svend Graversen, acknowledged Şimşir’s apology and promised internal action to uphold the club’s values of respect and fair play. "We understand that everyone has their limits, but we cannot accept this response," Graversen said.
Şimşir, 22, issued a personal apology, admitting frustration had led him to lose composure. "This was a clear lapse in judgment, and I’ve learned an important lesson," he said. "I will do my best to remain calm, regardless of provocations on the pitch."
Born in Denmark to Turkish immigrant parents, Şimşir represented Denmark’s youth national teams before switching to Turkey’s under-21 team in 2022, where he has earned seven caps.
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