UDINE: Italy’s 2026 World Cup qualifier with Israel was prefaced by clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and police on Tuesday as thousands of people marched through Udine in anger at the hosting of a match they felt should not be played. The Gaza ceasefire deal signed on Monday and a hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas did nothing to dampen the resolve of around 10,000 protesters who descended on the small city in Italy’s far north-east, a small section of whom were involved in disorder at the end of the march. Over 1,000 police officers and army personnel were deployed while helicopters and drones flew overhead to keep a watch on a demonstration which was kept several kilometers away from the Bluenergy Stadium hosting the Group I fixture. There was little chance of protesters reaching the stadium as checkpoints were put up in a ring around it, with spectators having to pass concrete barriers and metal detectors in order to watch a match which is key to Italy’s bid to ensure they qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 2014. The security operation was designed to stop rioting and ensure no-one gets near the ground or the Israel team, but although the march started peacefully in warm autumn sunshine it ended with police using a water cannon and tear gas on some of the marchers who threw rocks at officers. There was little sign of violent disorder when the march started at around 1800 local time , with the loudest noise the drumming and sound systems accompanying dancing from people of ages, who waved Palestinian flags and banners which read “show Israel the red card.” “There’s no more bombs and that makes us happy, but the problem with this peace plan is that there is no talk of a
