This Image Shows Palestino Club, Not the Chile National Football Team

Misbar investigated the circulating image and found the claim to be misleading.

Palestino Football Club 2014 Shirt With Map of Palestine

Misbar's team found that the image, which originates from 2014, is from Chile's Palestino club and is not affiliated with the national team.

In January 2014, the Chilean football federation prohibited a top division team from wearing a new jersey featuring the number one shaped like the map of Palestine, prior to the establishment of Israel. Palestino, a club founded by the significant Palestinian community in Chile, had already worn the new kit in three matches.

Jewish organizations expressed concerns that the design implied the entire territory was Palestinian. The Chilean federation, committed to opposing any form of discrimination, imposed a fine of $1,300 (£800) on the Santiago-based club.

Palestino had unveiled the new shirts in December, maintaining the team's traditional colors of red, green, and black, which reflect those of the Palestinian flag. However, the number one was replaced with the map of Palestine from before the UN's 1947 vote on the region's partition. Following the fine, Palestino announced it would stop using the controversial jersey after being sanctioned by the Chilean football federation's court.

Club Deportivo Palestino: Symbol of Palestinian Identity and Heritage in Chile

Club Deportivo Palestino, a football team, wears uniforms in white, green, and red. Their stadium proudly displays Palestinian flags, and their social sports club features an open-air pool designed in the shape of pre-1948 Palestine. However, this team, commonly referred to as Palestino, competes not in Palestine or the Middle East, but in Chile’s top football league, the Primera División de Chile.

Chile is home to the largest Palestinian population outside the Middle East, with nearly 500,000 individuals forming this diaspora. This community has significantly influenced nearly a century of Chilean policy regarding Palestine. At the heart of this community, Palestino has emerged as a unifying force for the diaspora, serving as a platform for cultural exchange and diplomacy.

The first wave of Palestinian immigrants arrived in Chile in the 1850s, fleeing the Crimean War. A subsequent wave of refugees came before and during World War I, as the Ottoman Empire began requiring compulsory military service from young Christian and Jewish men in 1909. Many sought to escape conscription, and families who lost their sons to military service faced poverty and chose to leave Palestine.

The final significant wave of immigration occurred after the Nakba in 1948, when 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes. Most of these migrants first reached the port of Buenos Aires before making their way across Argentina and entering Chile via the Andes on mules.

Palestinian NOC Reports Athlete Deaths and Infrastructure Damage Amid 2024 Olympics

The Palestine National Olympic Committee (NOC) has reported that approximately 400 Palestinian athletes have lost their lives since October 7, and much of the sporting infrastructure has been heavily damaged. This situation is a key argument in Palestine’s efforts to advocate for Israel’s suspension from the Olympic movement; another point raised is that ongoing bombardments in Gaza violate the Olympic truce tradition.

Rajoub emphasized that Palestine's ability to field a team for the Paris Olympics should be seen as a source of inspiration. “We could not bring a single athlete from Gaza,” he noted, referring to a team primarily composed of athletes based abroad. “Thus, participating in the Olympics is a significant accomplishment. It sends a positive message that we are present despite the challenges. We refuse to let frustration or defeat define us. We come with genuine enthusiasm and a clear message to the world.”

Speaking from a hotel in Paris, Rajoub highlighted the warm reception the Palestinian athletes received from approximately 100 supporters at Charles de Gaulle Airport on Thursday, which inspired him to mingle freely with guests and delegates. “I walk and move freely, and I feel secure,” he stated. “There is no one guarding or watching me. The emblem of my country is greeted positively by everyone. Such a reception conveys a message of hope to our people and serves as a warning to the opposing side.”

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