Athletic Club will dedicate a special pre-match ceremony to show support for Palestine ahead of their La Liga match against Mallorca. The Basque club will display a ‘Stop the Genocide’ message and welcome guests such as ex-Palestinian captain Honey Thaljieh to San Mamés in an emotional show of solidarity.
Athletic Club will make a strong statement of solidarity with the Palestinian people before their upcoming La Liga clash against Mallorca on Saturday. As part of a special pre-match ceremony, the Basque club has announced that the iconic San Mamés stadium will host a powerful message calling to “Stop the Genocide.”
This gesture comes as part of Athletic’s ongoing commitment to raise awareness for the Palestinian cause, with the club’s Foundation collaborating with UNRWA Euskadi. The initiative is not just about showing support but also about backing Palestinian refugees, particularly in the Basque Country.
Pre-match Ceremony & Special Guests
In addition to the video broadcast of the “Stop the Genocide” message, several key figures will be honoured on the pitch. Among the special guests is Honey Thaljieh, the co-founder and former captain of the Palestinian women’s national football team. She is also an ambassador for Athletic Club’s 125th-anniversary celebrations.
Thaljieh will be joined by a group of 11 Palestinian refugees currently residing in the Basque Country, as well as representatives from UNRWA, the United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees. The club is encouraging its fans to show their support by giving the guests a standing ovation before kick-off.
“Athletic Stands with Palestine”
The matchday atmosphere will be charged with emotion as the stadium’s video scoreboards will display the message: “Athletic Palestinaren alde. Stop genozidioa”—translated as “Athletic stands with Palestine. Stop the genocide.” This show of solidarity will be broadcast to viewers worldwide, making it a powerful moment for both fans in the stadium and those watching from afar.
Athletic Club’s Commitment to Palestinian Refugees
This initiative forms part of a broader partnership between the Athletic Club Foundation and UNRWA Euskadi, launched in October. The collaboration is focused on providing support to around 8,000 vulnerable Palestinian refugee children in Syria. The club has committed to funding physical education classes across 16 schools run by UNRWA. The project aims to offer these children a sense of normalcy and opportunity amid challenging circumstances.
Following the pre-match ceremony, Athletic Club’s attention will turn to the game against Mallorca, a crucial La Liga fixture. Currently sitting in 10th place, the Basque side will be hoping to build momentum with a win against a struggling Mallorca team, who are currently in the relegation zone.
What’s Next for Athletic Club?
After the heartfelt show of support for Palestine, Athletic will shift focus to the pitch, where they will look to maintain their strong form in La Liga. With Mallorca in a precarious position, Athletic Club will be expected to secure three points at home, continuing their charge up the table while also standing as a symbol of unity off the pitch.
