An Israeli Liverpool fan has declared that he is ‘done’ with the club after they banned a tribute to the victims of the Hamas attacks on Israel.
Hamas launched an attack on Israel which is believed to have killed 1,400 people on October 7 amid the ongoing conflict between the Middle East nation and Palestine.
In the aftermath of the attack, the FA opted to ban Israel and Palestine flags from England’s matches against Australia and Italy earlier this month due to fears it could lead to incidents between fans inside and around the stadium.
Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, have followed suit, although multiple Palestine flags were spotted at Anfield for the Merseyside derby on Saturday, while a banner mourning the deaths of Israelis during the Hamas attacks was also removed from the Kop.
A lifelong Reds fan hailing from Israel, Oren Sensel, has been angered by Liverpool’s decision to ban tributes to those killed by the Hamas attacks, and has stated he will no longer support the club.
An Israeli Liverpool has drastically changed his tattoo after claiming he is ‘done’ with the club following their response to the attacks on Israel by Hamas
He has decided to turn his back on the club after they banned a tribute banner to Israelis killed during attacks on Israel by Hamas
Israel and Palestine flags have been banned from Anfield, but multiple Palestine flags were spotted inside the stadium at Saturday’s Merseyside derby
He has taken drastic action to prove his point, blacking out the club’s crest on his arm tattoo and replacing it with the Star of David, while also crossing out the ‘Never’ from Liverpool’s iconic motto ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
He also had the date of Hamas’ attacks on Israel at the top of the tattoo.
Explaining his decision to turn his back on the Merseyside outfit, Sensel wrote on Facebook alongside pictures of his altered tattoo: ‘Anyone who knows me knows how much I loved Liverpool Football Club it was a central part of my life. Everything in my life was conducted according to team games, events.
‘I was always there and believed that the statement that Liverpool is much more than football catches even when we were all shocked by the terrible crime that occurred in the Gaza envelope, a crime against humanity where 1400 of our people were slaughtered.
‘I was expecting it… It is absolutely clear to me that Liverpool Football Club should not take sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but my big break started with the club not being willing to condemn the crime against humanity committed on 7.10.23 and increased to do when in the game against Everton they did not let a sign fly (totally non political and without any sign of Israel) a sign that perpetuates the 4 fans that were murdered Roy, Neta, Uri and Yuval Hayd, that’s where I finally broke down, that’s when I decided that I’m done with this club!
‘I’m not going to lie it’s hard for me, the club symbol was tattooed by my left (the side of the heart) I felt that I couldn’t keep walking around with this tattoo and I did change it because these words are written from the blood of my heart and the blood of my people is not in vain.
‘He who does not condemn the crime against humanity committed on 7.10.23 in my opinion is an accomplice, even if the economic considerations are critical.
‘So after 45 years or so I continue to go alone because the club that’s password is: “you’ll never walk alone”. He left me to go alone and he doesn’t deserve my sympathy literally.
‘Liverpool, hello and not goodbye.’
Sensel’s emotional post comes after Liverpool sent another message to fans ahead of their 5-1 win against Toulouse in the Europa League on Thursday, urging them not to bring flags, banners, clothes or scarves that identified as Pro-Israeli or Pro-Palestinian to the ground ‘for the foreseeable future’.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are set to play at Anfield for the third time in eight days on Sunday when they host Nottingham Forest.
