From Ferguson to Gaza. Sport, political sensibility, and the Israel/Palestine conflict in the age of Black Lives Matter

In June 2020, Black Lives Matter UK (BLM-UK) posted a series of tweets in which they endorsed the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Calling for ‘targeted sanctions line with international law against Israel’s colonial, apartheid regime,’ one tweet claimed that ‘mainstream British politics is gagged right to critique Zionism’. The were seen by some be antisemitic resulted English Premier League, BBC Sky Sports, had hitherto been supportive protests, distance themselves from One month later, during BLM protests USA, NFL player DeSean Jackson material his Instagram story was also viewed as antisemitic. This article unpacks, via these two sports-based incidents, relationship between anti-racism, antisemitism, anti-Zionism. I discuss how tensions are not new, but clear echo existed 1960s 1970s height Civil Rights Movement; continue because foundational issues remain unchanged. These incidents raise important questions about sports organisations operate world where sport ‘apolitical’ strive ‘neutrality’ fail recognise political position neutrality cannot successfully achieved. assesses challenges arise when organisations, their athletes, choose engage certain kind politics.