Why are some flags being banned in North American sports venues?

Toronto is known for being one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and Canada prides itself on the fact that so many communities live alongside each other. As part of that, they are able to enjoy mega sports events and celebrate those victories with flags, parades and much more. 

When Milwaukee Bucks' Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo comes to play in Toronto at the Scotiabank Arena, he ignites the pride of the Greek community. They come to the game with songs and flags and it's lovely.

The crowd at Scotiabank Arena is often a display of flags of different countries. I attended the Caribbean Night last year and saw flags from Jamaica, Grenada, St. Vincent, and so many other countries. Likewise, there are always a few German flags honouring the newest Toronto Raptor, Dennis Schröder, who hails from Germany. It's a nice reminder that those countries are present and included in the North American sports ecosystem. 

Flags represent an identity, but right now they are a cause for concern in different communities, creating a bit of a collision  with sports fandom. 

A few days after Hamas' horrific attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Major League Soccer implemented a temporary flag ban across the league — which applies to Toronto Football Club (TFC) and BMO field. The policy states that "flags representing a country or nationality at MLS matches" are not permitted. 

In the National Women's Soccer League, Angel City Football Club in Los Angeles also implemented a ban for their own venue.

So why were these bans implemented? And how long will they be in effect? Are they to prevent violence in the stands between supporters of the opposing sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict? 

If so, the implication that anyone holding an