Norway donates proceeds from its match against “Israel” to Gaza

SANAA, Aug. 21 (YPA) – The Norwegian Football Association announced that the proceeds from the national team’s match against the Israeli occupation team will be allocated to support the Gaza Strip.

The Norwegian and Israeli national teams will meet in Oslo on October 11 in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Association, said in an official statement, “We want to donate the match proceeds to a humanitarian organization that saves lives daily in Gaza and effectively provides emergency aid on the ground.”

It is not yet clear how much the Norwegian Football Association expects from ticket sales for the match, which will begin next season.

In response, the Israeli Football Association responded to this initiative on Wednesday by demanding that the Norwegian Football Association condemn the attacks of October 7, 2023, and the detention of prisoners by Hamas.

The Norwegian Football Association announced that it is coordinating with UEFA and the local police regarding security arrangements for the match.

The Norwegian Football Association added that the heightened security measures are expected to reduce the stadium’s capacity by about 3,000 tickets, noting that the Norwegian national team usually plays its matches at the “Ullevaal” stadium with an attendance of 26,000 spectators.