The Spanish league match between Osasuna and Getafe on Friday night ended in a dramatic 2–1 victory for Osasuna, but the game will be remembered less for the last-minute goal and more for the anti-Israel protest in the stands.
In the 10th minute, the referee, Javier Alberola, stopped play briefly after tennis balls were thrown onto the field in a coordinated protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The match resumed a few minutes later.
Throughout the stadium, spectators waved Palestinian flags, and one Basque-language banner reading “Israel Suntistu”—which translates to “Destroy Israel”—sparked widespread condemnation.
Fans were also heard chanting against Israel and calling for the country to be expelled from FIFA and UEFA.
Anti-Israel sentiment growing in Spanish soccer
Such protests have become increasingly common in Spain since the start of the Gaza war. On Friday, Athletic Bilbao announced a solidarity event with Palestine before its match against Mallorca, scheduled for Saturday at the San Mamés Stadium.
During the ceremony, 11 Palestinian refugees from the Basque region, along with Honey Thaljieh, former captain of the Palestinian women’s national team and now UNRWA’s ambassador in Spain, were invited onto the field to applause from the crowd.
Bilbao emphasized that the event was meant as a humanitarian gesture reflecting the club’s values and commitment to “international solidarity.” However, it was held under the slogan: “Athletic stands with Palestine: stop the genocide.”
The growing intersection of soccer and political activism in Spain has drawn criticism from Israeli officials and Jewish organizations, who argue that such displays cross the line from solidarity to incitement.
What began as a match in La Liga’s eighth round ended up highlighting the deepening polarization in European sports—and the increasingly visible presence of anti-Israel sentiment in the stands.