Pro-Palestinian protest threat racks up tension for Italy's World Cup qualifier with Israel | Sports

MILAN, Italy, Oct 9, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Italy are struggling to qualify automatically for next year's World Cup finals and the pressure on the team is exacerbated by the tension surrounding next Tuesday's qualifier with Israel in Udine. Italy was the scene of some of Europe's biggest pro-Palestinian protests last weekend, as Israeli forces continue their offensive in Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered across Italy in anger at Israel's actions, and calls for the country to be barred from international sport have grown louder. The protests were in response to Israel's military operation in Gaza, which was sparked by the attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, on Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. During Friday's massive...