A protester chained himself to the goalposts at Scotland's Women's Euro 2025 qualifier match against Israel at Hampden Stadium in Glasgow. The kick-off, scheduled for 19:05, was delayed due to the incident. About 400 demonstrators, some carrying small coffins and Palestinian flags, gathered outside the main stand. Protests were sparked by opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
The match was played behind closed doors following intelligence on planned disruptions, as confirmed by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) after security consultations. This fixture is the first of two between Scotland and Israel, with the return match in Budapest also set to be played without spectators.
The police stated that appropriate safety measures were in place to manage public safety and minimize disruptions. Israel's national teams are currently barred from hosting matches by UEFA, following security concerns after the October 7th attack by Hamas and Israel's subsequent military response.
Protests against Israel's operations in Gaza have been occurring across the UK, and a group called the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee orchestrated the protest at Hampden, calling for the cancellation of the match.