A French court has issued a one-year ban on two spectators from attending basketball matches after they raised the Palestinian flag during a game between the French team Nanterre and the Israeli team Hapoel Holon. The incident occurred during a recent basketball competition, sparking legal action against the individuals.
The court imposed the ban on the two fans, aged 19 and 21, alongside a €500 fine. The decision came after they displayed the Palestinian flag during the match, an act deemed a violation of stadium regulations. However, the court dismissed charges of violence against the fans, who had been accused of assaulting a supporter of the Israeli team.
French media reported that the ruling underscores the strict enforcement of rules governing conduct at sporting events. The case has drawn attention to the intersection of political expression and sports, particularly in contexts involving sensitive international issues.