SHAFAQNA- Press TV: A number of activists from 20 countries followed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and requested for a boycott of German sportswear manufacturer Puma due to its sponsorship of the Israel Football Association (IFA).
Human rights activists and sports fans were called to demonstrate at Puma retail outlets, offices and matches of Puma-sponsored teams on Saturday.
Images circulating in social media consequently showed protesters and athletes taking part in the protests in various countries, including the United States, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, Austria, Italia, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
From Aberdeen to London, over 20 actions have taken place today in the UK alone as part of the #BoycottPuma international day of action! @PUMA – we won’t stop until you end your sponsorship of Israeli apartheid
Leave the #PumaFam #BDS pic.twitter.com/7SMQvSclQt
— PSC (@PSCupdates) October 26, 2019
Among the various events was a pro-Palestine solidarity football match organized by the USIM and UniSZA universities in Terengganu, Malaysia.
Users on social media also expressed solidarity with the boycott movement, posting images of Puma clothing, shoes and bags with “Boycott” written over them.
Do you own Puma sportswear? Join #RebrandPuma!@Puma supports Israel’s illegal settlements on stolen Palestinian land.
Rebrand your Puma gear by writing “Boycott” over the logo in support of the call from Palestinian athletes to #BoycottPuma. https://t.co/nlotcx6KYL pic.twitter.com/dSKJgnfbVk
— PACBI (@PACBI) October 25, 2019
Last week, advertisements regarding the “Boycott Puma” movement also appeared in subway cars in Britain’s capital city of London, describing the sportswear company as a “proud sponsor of Israeli apartheid”.
Support the #BoycottPuma actions taking place across the world today and demand Puma end their sponsorship of the Israel Football Association which includes teams on stolen Palestinian land #BDS pic.twitter.com/XmQMAqBlkY
— Lowkey (@Lowkey0nline) October 26, 2019
London’s transport managing body, Transport for London (TfL), vowed to “immediately” remove the posters shortly later, however.
The October 26 protests mark a second wave of international boycott protests against Puma following an earlier global day of action in June.
The protests come after Puma signed a four-year sponsorship deal with the IFA shortly after its rival Adidas announced that it would be no-longer sponsoring the IFA last year.
The BDS movement’s official website claims that Adidas’ decision followed “an international campaign and the delivery of over 16,000 signatures to Adidas headquarters”.
‘Whitewashing Israeli occupation’
Writing for news network Al Jazeera on Sunday, female Palestinian football player Aya Khattab voiced her support for the #BoycottPuma movement.
“We are constantly subjected to humiliating searches at military checkpoints when we travel for training sessions or events. Our matches get interrupted and raided by armed soldiers. Our pitches get swallowed by ever-expanding illegal settlements and our stadiums destroyed by Israeli bombs,” she wrote.
“That is why we expect the rest of the world, and especially sport institutions and companies, to be aware of our pain and to support us. That is why we reject attempts by sport brands and companies to whitewash Israel’s occupation,” Khattab added.