Clashes Erupt at Pro-Palestinian March Before Italy v Israel World Cup Qualifier. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters marched in Udine on Tuesday ahead of Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Israel. The demonstration, organised by the Committee for Palestine-Udine, drew more than 5,000 participants, according to police estimates. Protesters urged FIFA to ban Israel from international competitions, accusing its team of supporting “occupation policies” in Palestinian territories. Marchers carried an 18-metre Palestinian flag and a banner reading “Show Israel the red card,” calling for justice despite the recent ceasefire. Tensions escalated at the end of the march when some protesters threw firecrackers and barriers at police, who responded with water cannons and tear gas. Two journalists and several police officers were injured in the clashes, according to RAI and Ansa reports. Udine’s mayor, Alberto Felice De Toni, condemned the violence, calling it “unacceptable” and a stain on an otherwise peaceful protest. Many local shops closed early amid security fears following unrest at similar demonstrations across Italy in recent weeks. Italy won the match 3–0 at the Friuli Stadium, with just over 9,000 tickets sold out of a reduced 16,000 capacity. [Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT]