Frederic Kanoute shows off his shirt [EPA]
Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute is facing a fine from the Spanish football federation for revealing a T-shirt expressing support for Palestine during a match.
Kanoute lifted his Sevilla shirt over his head after scoring in the team's 2-1 Copa del Rey win over Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday to display a black T-shirt on which the word "Palestine'' was printed in several languages.
The federation's Competition Committee is expected to study the incident on Friday.
Yellow card
Kanoute, who was born in France but plays internationally for Mali, is a practicing Muslim.
Kanoute's action, which has been interpreted as a response to Israel's recent attacks on Gaza that have intentionally killed more than 1000 civilians using phosphorous and cluster bombs, was met with a yellow card from referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
Lahoz said in his post-match report that he had cautioned Kanoute for raising his shirt over his head in accordance with federation rules, while also noting the message of the striker's T-shirt.
Raphael Schultz, Israel's ambassador in Madrid, told Spain's Radio Marca on Thursday that Kanoute's gesture "had gone beyond his profession and Fifa rules to this respect.''
"I saw the match and the T-shirt bore nothing more than the name of Palestine.
"It was not an incitement against Israel.
"I don't think it extolled violence," Schultz said.
Public support
Meanwhile, Palestine embassy official Mahmoud Aluanen told the same station that Kanoute "has shown himself to be a very brave person to support our people at a public event."
"Sportsmen are human beings and cannot contain their feelings.
"They have all the right in the world to express their opinion about matters which contravene human rights.
"I'm sure that all Palestinian children, those who love football, will be happy about this gesture," Aluanen added.
The incident came a day before Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas
paid a
visit to Madrid for talks with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis
Rodriguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos.
Comments and faves
TheMchoom (Support Ghaza Nooooooooooooooow!!!) [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called A photograph and a story, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Hussam Yaish (41 months ago | reply)
Excellent photo for a great man.
samdaq (AT) hotmail (41 months ago | reply)
Frederic Kanoute is a brave man
Aneen Elrouh (41 months ago | reply)
Iwas glad when i saw him on tv and igot mad when they Penalizes
him for his feeling
samdaq (AT) hotmail (41 months ago | reply)
so many people have same feeling like Frederick; yet he proved to be stronger and braver than most of us
~ boxBOX, sultan albadran-سلطان البدران, and .. apaci .. added this photo to their favorites.
89545 - BAD GOVERMENT. [deleted] (41 months ago | reply)
heroooo
•♥° Jεddαh GiЯl ..اللهم رضاك added this photo to her favorites. (41 months ago)
•♥° Jεddαh GiЯl ..اللهم رضاك (41 months ago | reply)
m.alrashid-يا قدس انا قادمون-, ~ Muneera, Muiz Anwar, Ghasal, and 2 other people added this photo to their favorites.
rage_4peace (41 months ago | reply)
all for gaza..
you are the brave man..
paolamou (41 months ago | reply)
Seen in:
“Dreams Came True” (Post1 / Award 2)
mauronline (41 months ago | reply)
All my respects for kanouté, he has balls!!
juschillaxin added this photo to their favorites. (38 months ago)
Goodbye Flickries [deleted] (37 months ago | reply)
Fav
wiggiewormdog (23 months ago | reply)
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wiggiewormdog (23 months ago | reply)
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Fakher Ultraroyaliste added this photo to his favorites. (9 months ago)