In a concerning incident that has sparked outrage, a 15-year-old Palestinian-Australian girl was refused entry to an A-League match in Sydney’s Allianz Stadium on Sunday evening due to the jersey she was wearing.
Ella Ajaje, a young football fan, arrived at the stadium wearing a jersey from the Chilean club Club Deportivo Palestino, which features the Palestinian flag. However, upon attempting to enter the stadium, she was stopped by a security guard who cited the jersey’s connection to Palestine as the reason for denying her entry.
“It feels really upsetting to be asked to take it off,” Ella said. “It’s sad you can’t represent your culture. The rule was only applying to me because I was wearing ‘Palestine’ [flag colours].”
Ella’s uncle, Rumzi Hajaj, recorded part of the incident, in which the security guard can be heard saying, “It’s not the dress code. It’s the fact it’s got Palestine.” The guard further stated, “We don’t allow countries in here other than Australia.”
After being initially refused entry, Ella was later told she could enter the stadium if she agreed to remove her jersey. Reluctantly, she complied, only to put the jersey back on once inside the venue without any further issues.
The Australian Professional Leagues, which operates the A-League, acknowledged the incident and stated that they are currently discussing the matter with the venue. The league’s chief executive, Steve Rosh, said the jersey was considered a “restricted item” under the stadium’s terms of admission, but that the young fan was ultimately permitted to enter after removing the item.
However, Ella’s family members reported seeing other fans wearing jerseys displaying flags of other countries who were allowed to enter the stadium without incident. This has led to accusations of double standards and concerns over the league’s policies regarding the display of national symbols.
The incident has sparked outrage within the Palestinian-Australian community and beyond, with many condemning the decision as discriminatory and a violation of the individual’s right to express their cultural identity.
As the Australian Professional Leagues and the venue continue to investigate the matter, the case has raised important questions about inclusivity, freedom of expression, and the need for sports organisations to ensure their policies and practices are fair and equitable for all fans.
