The English Football Association has declared that it will write to all football clubs warning their players not to use the term “From River To Sea” on social media.
The phrase “From River To Sea” is said to represent support for Palestinian nationalism, as the country has been at war with Israel, which is considered as a major ally of the Western world.
The confrontation between Israel and Palestine reached an all-time high in September 2022, when the terrorist group Hamas, based in Gaza, a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel, killing hundreds of people and kidnapping scores more.
In reprisal for the strike, Israel detonated a series of explosives in Gaza and unleashed an all-out war on the city, killing thousands of both armed forces and civilians.
Since the issue erupted, many people, particularly well-known opinion leaders, have taken sides.
Recently, Leicester City’s 26-year-old English-born player, Hamza Choudhury, turned to X to publish a post including the phrase “From River To Sea,” which sparked a major uproar, forcing him to erase the post and issue a public apology for using the term.
“If this phrase is used again by a football participant, we will seek police guidance on how we should treat it and respond,” the English FA said in a statement released on Wednesday, November 1.
“After careful consideration, we will be writing to all clubs to make it clear that this phrase is considered offensive to many and should not be used by players in social media posts,” the statement continued.