The famous Malian footballer Frédéric Oumar Kanouté revealed a T-Shirt expressing his support for Palestine during a match. As a reaction, the disciplinary committee of the Spanish football federation announced on January 9th a fine of 3,000 euros (4,093 dollars) on the veteran Sevilla striker for displaying this shirt, considering it an offense ( since the federation’s regulations forbid political and religious messages by players on the field). (English; Arabic).

Now although I’ve always respected regulations of all kinds, but I also believe that there are certain situations in which rules are to be broken, and I believe the situation in Gaza is one of these situations. Football players are human beings after all, and they’re entitled to express their minds freely in the times of crisis.

I wish that freedom of expression would’ve been respected more, and that an exception would have been considered since this message is more humanitarian rather than political, it’s a call to save the lives of innocent people who are being butchered on the watch of the whole world.

Picture Source [EPA]

I personally consider his act brave and courageous, not a new thing to Kanouté. In the name of all Palestinians, I THANK you Kanouté, for this thoughtful gesture.

Don’t know Kanouté? get to know him.