The Football Association can summon the political will to support Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ rights. This is correct, because black lives do matter, as do those of LGBTQ+ people. Football is for everyone. Yet when it comes to the massacre of Jews, the FA equivocates. Why?
Days after more than one thousand Israelis, the vast majority of whom civilians, were butchered by Hamas terrorists, while more than 100 are held hostage, the FA has refused to light Wembley’s famous arch in blue and white — the colours of the Israeli flag. It also rejected an idea to show the colours of Jewish prayer, a decision described as “mind-blowing” by Lord Mann, an adviser to the Government on anti-Semitism.
Instead, the players will wear black armbands during their friendly match against Australia to “remember the innocent victims of the devastating events in Israel and Palestine”. Hard to disagree with in isolation, but so stripped of context and the genocidal nature of the attack that it is basically devoid of meaning.
It gives the impression that the FA is afraid to condemn terrorism or mourn with British Jews, for fear of causing offence. It is, therefore, an act of cowardice.
Failing on knife crime
Perhaps because they are common in the US, the land of guns and mass shootings, we did not raise an eyebrow at knife wand metal detectors in their schools. But it feels like a truly shocking development for London. All 500 secondary schools in the capital are to be offered them to screen students for weapons following the murder of 15-year-old Elianne Andam in Croydon earlier this month.
Sadiq Khan will write to headteachers setting the support, resources and funding available to tackle the rise in youth violence. Already this year, the number of teenage homicides has surpassed the total for 2022. Parents are fearful when they send their children to school.
These detectors may give them more assurance, or they may simply underline how endemic violence, and in particular knife crime, has become in London. If safety is a city’s number one priority, on that basis, we are failing far too many.
Art for all
Art lovers, rejoice: Frieze is back. Organisers have hailed this year’s edition as “the most international to date”. By the weekend, the event will transform into a huge public art show, generating millions not only for galleries and artists, but income for London’s hotels, restaurants and theatres.
Even the sun is set to shine. Frieze runs until 6pm on Sunday. For more, head to standard.co.uk.
