“Don’t play with those who kill children”: Protestors urge Italy coach to boycott ‘Israel’ match

A sign was placed in front of the house of Italian football coach Gennaro Gattuso in the town of Corigliano-Rossano, Calabria, in a protest against an upcoming World Cup qualifier between Italy and ‘Israel’.

The sign delivered a clear message: "Rino, don't play with those who kill children,” using the nickname for the Italian name “Gennaro”.

Calls to Cancel the Match

Residents of the town in the Calabria region also launched a petition that gathered hundreds of signatures, demanding that Gattuso not play the match as a gesture of support for the Palestinian people.

The petitioners said it is “important from a human perspective”.

The widespread public support for the Palestinian cause was evident despite the match being scheduled to proceed. Many fans also called on the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) and the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) to cancel the match, but these requests were unsuccessful.