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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Simon Collings

FA consider Israel tribute ahead of England friendly against Australia at Wembley

The FA will consider how to recognise the victims of the violence in Israel.

England play Australia at Wembley on Friday, and the FA are considering a tribute to the hundreds of Israelis killed in Hamas attacks.

It has become common practice in recent years for the Wembley arch to be illuminated in the colours of the national flags of countries suffering major tragedies.

Displaying the colours of the Israel flag could be viewed as taking sides in the war, but, at the very least, there could be a minute’s silence before the friendly in tribute to those who have died.

FA chairwoman Debbie Hewitt told the BBC: “We are certainly considering [what to do]. As we get closer to the game on Friday we will give some thought as to how best to recognise our concern for all innocent victims.”

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said on Tuesday: “We genuinely haven't had that meeting yet. We have seen the terrible events unfold on our television screens as everyone else has, clearly it is tragic and we will look at what we do over the next couple of days.”

Neither FIFA nor UEFA have issued any statement about the war.

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