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The Norwegian crowd disrespected Israel’s national anthem, "Hatikvah," before the match between Israel and Norway in the World Cup qualifiers. This followed controversial statements by members of the Norwegian national team regarding the war in Gaza. A few hundred Norwegians attended the match, which was held in Debrecen, Hungary.
Some used vuvuzelas during the anthem, while others shouted and booed. This is not the first time such an incident has occurred. Last September, Italian fans disrespected "Hatikvah" before a Nations League match. The Italian crowd turned their backs to the field, booed, and even made obscene gestures.
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UEFA representatives reportedly approached the Italian team's leaders during the game, asking them to calm their fans. The match was preceded by provocative statements from Norwegians against Israel. Norway is known for its anti-Israeli stance, which extends to football. The president of the Norwegian Football Association, Lise Klaveness, said before the match: "We support the Palestinians, but boycotting the game against Israel is the wrong step."
(Israeli anthem against Norway a year ago)
Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, who plays for Sevilla in La Liga, commented: "We deeply regret what is happening in Gaza. This is a very great tragedy. The political situation is complex and difficult, and it is obviously especially sad for the people living in Palestine."
Before the match, Norway's manager, Ståle Solbakken, was asked about a possible boycott of the game due to the ongoing war in Gaza: "According to my and the association's opinion, a boycott from Norway will not help anyone. That discussion is clear. Then I understand that someone who has been affected would see it as a very strong signal and a powerful tool, but we have decided this," he said.
Surprisingly, Norway’s star player Erling Haaland, who plays as a striker for Premiership club Manchester City, attempted to cool tensions. "I don’t think, as a football player, I should talk about this. There are others who need to think about what they should do and where they should stand. Maybe you should ask someone else. We need to do everything we can in our World Cup qualifier matches," he said.