Norwegian football club Bodø/Glimt has announced its decision to donate the proceeds from its recent UEFA Europa League match against Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv to Gaza.
In an official statement, the club declared: “Bodø/Glimt cannot and will not remain indifferent to the suffering and violations of international law occurring in other parts of the world. At the same time, we are a football team, not a political entity.”
The statement continued: “Now, we want to show that we act upon our words. We will donate all the ticket proceeds from our home match against Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Red Cross, allocating them specifically for relief efforts in Gaza.”
The club confirmed that ticket sales from the match generated a total of 735,000 Norwegian kroner (approximately $65,000), all of which will be donated to aid Gaza.
Widespread Praise for the Decision
Bodø/Glimt’s move received widespread acclaim from supporters, who praised the club’s humanitarian stance.
Many described the decision as “courageous”, noting that it would boost the morale of those affected, particularly given that the match was against an Israeli team.
In addition to their gesture, Bodø/Glimt secured a convincing 3-1 home victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the match, which took place on January 23, as part of the eighth and final round of the UEFA Europa League group stage.
