A flag, sewn in a hurry

At the 2010 World Cup, SAMNET started a project to get Palestinian flags into the stadiums. There was no indication it had been done at a World Cup finals before.

It was put together hastily, after the opening match, and at the time there was nowhere in South Africa to buy a Palestinian flag. We repurposed Jordanian flags we had been given — we will not say from where — and removed the star. They were not big, so several were sewn together in a rush for the matches in Durban.

Then it took on a life of its own. We shipped flags to people in other cities and for the final, and people started making bigger and bigger ones, because the first ones were not big enough to read on television. Israeli flags appeared shortly after, mostly at the corners, in response.

People carrying flags outside the stadiums were noticed — at least one South African was interviewed by Tunisian television. After the Spain–Germany semi-final, Spanish fans called over the people with the Palestinian flag to celebrate with them, shouting “Palestina” in front of the cameras.

More than flags

It has been suggested that 2010 was the first World Cup at which Muslims were recognised as a fan group — because South African Muslims organised, however late and however imperfectly. It was not unusual to see groups performing salaah on patches of grass before matches. There was at least one halaal food stand at most stadiums; not very practical, but a start.

One of our locals was called before the London Olympics, and again from Qatar, asking how Muslims in South Africa had organised.

Where the pressure should go

SAMNET and BDS campaigners have repeatedly called for more activism in sport, particularly directed at FIFA over its double standards.

Start at club level and with national bodies. Then CAF and the other continental bodies. Then FIFA. And use FIFA’s own catchphrases — “football family”, “kicking out racism” — and repeat them back.

A teaching idea

In schools, this is material for teaching letter and email writing — addressed to real bodies, across different sporting codes. Emotive, respectful, insightful, practical and measurable.

It will likely mean more to a child to watch an email actually being sent, and perhaps to receive a reply, than to paint another poster for the classroom wall that nobody who needs to see it will ever see.

Activism is taught and learned. Activism is about changing other people — not repeating the message to people who already agree. It is a million small droplets that combine into a flood. It is about doing something that makes a difference, not something that makes you feel better. Let our children feel they are doing something that counts.

Gamification — an open offer

SAMNET would be glad to help anyone organise a competition, and to sponsor prizes for the students and schools that mount the best collective email campaign to FIFA or another sporting body.

This offer extends beyond Muslim schools. Where Palestine would be a difficult subject for a school, we are equally happy for them to take on local issues — potholes, road safety, corruption. The skill is the point.

Education is not just about the mark, or an A in matric. It is for life.

A hundred schools of five hundred students, one email each, is fifty thousand emails. Add each child’s parents and it is a hundred and fifty thousand. Repeat it until it has to be noticed.

Much of European football is no longer about sport; it is a business. When the fans — the consumers — apply pressure, businesses notice. It may not take a day or a week. Palestinians have been at this for more than seventy-five years. We are being asked for a few minutes.

Watch

• Palestinian flags at the 2010 World Cup. A longer compilation across multiple stadiums and matches appears to have been taken down.
• AJ+ on removing Israel from FIFA.

Contact SAMNET on info@samnet.co.za or WhatsApp 084 333 3979.

Related

Writing Letters to Counter the False Narrative · Social Media Is Powerful — When Used Effectively · A Landmark Approaches

Shared by the South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) in the interest of justice for Palestine, activism, BDS and education.