BUENOS AIRES – A football match in Argentina’s capital turned into a political protest as supporters of All Boys staged a pro-Palestinian demonstration ahead of their National B First Division match against Club Atlanta in Buenos Aires.
Before kick-off, All Boys fans chanted “Free Palestine” slogans, waved Palestinian and Iranian flags, and staged a symbolic funeral procession for Israel. A coffin draped in the Israeli and Club Atlanta flags was carried by protestors, a moment captured in several videos that quickly went viral on social media.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) swiftly condemned the protest, labeling it as inappropriate and announcing that an investigation had been launched into the incident. “Sporting events should not be platforms for political expression of this kind,” the association stated.
The protest appeared to be aimed at Club Atlanta, which is based in a neighborhood of Buenos Aires with a large Jewish population. Supporters of All Boys seemingly associated the club with support for Israel and used the occasion to voice opposition.
Fans of All Boys, an Argentine football team, created a fiery pro-Palestine atmosphere before their National B First Division match against Atlanta by flying a drone with a Palestinian flag and carrying a coffin draped in the Israeli flag, while waving Palestinian and Iranian… pic.twitter.com/LEWUuieFKr
— Islam Channel (@Islamchannel) June 30, 2025
During the match, a drone carrying a Palestinian flag was flown over the stadium, while pamphlets were distributed among spectators with slogans such as “Down with Israel.” A banner displayed in the stands read: “Death to the genocidal state of Israel.”
The match itself ended in a 0-0 draw, overshadowed by the politically charged atmosphere in the stadium.
Following the match, Argentina’s Ministry of Security issued a statement confirming that a complaint had been filed on charges of vandalism and hate incitement. Authorities are currently reviewing footage and identifying individuals involved.
Argentina is home to Latin America’s largest Jewish community, with an estimated population of around 300,000. The incident has sparked widespread debate in the country about the role of political activism in sports and the boundaries of free expression.
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