Norwegian football fans unveiled a ‘Let Children Live’ banner alongside a Palestine flag as political protests overshadowed their 5-0 win over Israel.
Erling Haaland – who missed two penalties on the night – scored a hat-trick to all-but book Norway’s place at the 2026 World Cup.
But the attention in Oslo was largely centred on what happened off the pitch with Palestine flags dotted across the stands after hundreds of fans marched to the stadium in protest against Israel.
More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel’s attack on Gaza, dating back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas-supporting militants killed 1,200 people in Israel.
Flags and flares lit up the night sky in Oslo as furious Norway fans marched towards the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo.
Security was intensified for this fixture was intensified given the political backdrop as hundreds of Norway fans marched through the streets with pro-Palestine flags and banners. Many locals also hung Palestine flags from their balconies throughout the route.
Norwegian football fans came out in support of Palestine as they protested against Israel
Protests continued inside the ground as a ‘Let Children Live’ banner was unfurled in the stands
One football supporter ran on to the pitch wearing a ‘Free Gaza’ t-shirt as he was escorted out
Inside the ground Palestine flags were increasingly prominent and one protesting supporter ran on to the pitch during the game wearing a ‘Free Gaza’ t-shirt.
He was eventually wrestled to the ground by stewards and led away.
Norwegian football authorities have taken a particularly strong stance when it comes to Israel’s continued participation in World Cup qualification.
Ahead of the game the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) vowed to donate all proceeds from Saturday’s match to providing emergency aid in Gaza.
That decision arrived on the back of NFF president Lise Klaveness explaining in August that the governing body could not ‘remain indifferent to the humanitarian suffering’.
In September Klaveness came out on the Pop and Politics podcast to state that she did not believe Israel’s football team deserved the right to competition and should have been kicked out just like Russia was amid their war on Ukraine.
On Friday, Israeli troops began the process of withdrawing under a peace agreement.
