Women’s cup final abandoned at Maidstone United’s Gallagher Stadium as Palestine flags waved

A women's cup final was abandoned after stadium management allegedly objected to Palestine flags in the crowd.

Clapton CFC and Dulwich Hamlet Reserves were just 20 minutes into the London and South East Regional Women’s Football League Trophy final at Maidstone United's Gallagher Stadium when the game came to an abrupt halt.

Clapton claim a representative of Maidstone United demanded supporters stop displaying a Palestinian flag and an anti-genocide banner among the Dulwich Hamlet fans.

The two teams were offered the opportunity to continue to play behind closed doors, but Clapton declined.

In a statement, the club said both sets of supporters “did not wish to remove their flag/banner” during yesterday afternoon’s match.

“Thirty-two women were denied the opportunity to play the L&SERWFL Trophy final,” the club said in a statement issued on behalf of the players.

“About 20 minutes into the match, both Clapton and Dulwich supporters were approached by a representative of Maidstone United, Gallagher Stadium owners.

"He demanded that our supporters must stop waving the Palestinian flag, and the Dulwich supporters must take down their banner which read ‘show genocide the red card.’

“After both groups of supporters refused, a league official walked onto the field of play to stop the game.

"In a discussion with the match officials, players and coaches, he communicated that we could not use the ground while both the Palestinian flag and the banner were displayed.

“Our given options were to [either] play the game behind closed doors or to abandon the game.”

Clapton, who were leading 2-0 when the match was called off, said both sets of fans then came together “in solidarity with the Palestinian people, singing more songs and