FA blasted as ‘cowards’ for not lighting up Wembley to display Israel colours

The FA has been hit with outrage after the Wembley arch was not lit with the colours of Israel after the Hamas attacks of October 7.

Football bosses have instead cancelled any attempt, present or future, to respond to international crises by showing solidarity with the colours of the arch.

The arch will now reportedly only light in colours directly linked to the stadium’s use as a sport and entertainment venue.

Journalist Matin Daubney said on X: “The cowards at the FA finally decide to keep out of politics – after the huge backlash against them refusing to display Israel colours after the Hamas terror attacks.

“They supported every cause on the planet – except the murder of Jews. Shame on them.”

Lord John Mann, the Government’s antisemitism adviser, said lighting it up would have provided a “message of hope and comfort” to Britain’s Jewish community.

Meanwhile, rabbi Alex Goldberg quit the FA’s ‘Faith in Football’ group after the decision.

The FA did not light Wembley in the white and blue colours of Israel after 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’ attack, at England’s international friendly against Australia five days later.

Instead, players from both sides wore black armbands during the friendly, with flags and kits from non-competing nations – including Israel – banned.

There was also a period of silence held before kick-off.

At the time, the Board of Deputies of British Jews labelled the FA’s response as “weak”.

The decision removes the expectation of the arch to be lit at all in response to such events, meaning the FA is not forced to take a stance on often complex geopolitical events.

The arch could still be lit to mark the deaths of national figures such as a former England player or a monarch, and was lit following the death of the Queen last year.

In the past it has been lit in the colours of France, Turkey and Ukraine within days of those countries being attacked.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said: “I recognise that our decision caused hurt to the Jewish community who felt that we should have lit the arch and that we should have shown stronger support for them.

“This was one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make, and the last thing we ever wanted to do in this situation was to add to the hurt.

“We aren’t asking for everyone to agree with our decision, but to understand how we reached it.”