Cricket: Moeen Ali barred from wearing 'Save Gaza' wristbands
But the International Cricket Council (ICC) said Ali would face no disciplinary action on this occasion after being warned about his future conduct by match referee David Boon, the former Australia batsman.
Worcestershire all-rounder Ali wore wristbands during the third Test match against India on Monday that read "Save Gaza" and "Free Palestine", while batting during England's first innings at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
The conflict in Gaza is entering its fourth week, with the Palestinian death toll passing the 1,100 mark and 56 people losing their lives on the Israeli side.
Ali's gesture led the ICC to say they were investigating his conduct. "The ICC equipment and clothing regulations do not permit the display of messages that relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes during an international match,” a spokesperson for the global governing body told AFP on Tuesday.
"Moeen Ali was told by the match referee that whilst he is free to express his views on such causes away from the cricket field, he is not permitted to wear the wristbands on the field of play and warned not to wear the bands again during an international match."
The 27-year-old Ali, a Birmingham-born Muslim of Pakistani descent, was photographed recently helping raise funds for Gaza relief efforts in his home city in central England.
Ali's wristbands were only on public display for 42 minutes on Monday while he made 12 runs off 28 balls before he was caught off India seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
On Monday, the England and Wales Cricket Board insisted they had no issues with Ali's conduct.
"As far as we are concerned, he has not committed any offence," an ECB spokesperson said, adding it was up to the ICC to decide what action, if any, Ali should face.
Meanwhile other cricketers expressed their support of Ali on Twitter.
"Absolutely love this! Well done Moeen bro! Keep showing your support! #Pray4Gaza" wrote former England cricketer Ajmal Shahzad.
"Good on brother mo! #prayforGaza" wrote Lancashire and former England bowler Kabir Ali, Moeen's cousin.
"We have always worn wristbands or ribbons when showing support 4an incident or raising awareness,we do it for animal rights too, y not humans," wrote former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood.
Before play began on Tuesday's third day of the third Test, players from both sides, together with officials stood to observe a minute's silence in memory of all those cricketers who fought and lost their lives in World War I, a hundred years on from the start of that conflict.
Meanwhile the England players also wore shirts with the logo of Help for Heroes, a charity that assists wounded British armed forces veterans, stitched into the collar.
The question of what kinds of protest are permissible at sporting events has long been a thorny topic, with the Gaza conflict not just an issue for cricket.
On Friday, Malaysian cyclist Azizulhasni Awang was warned he risked being thrown out of the Commonwealth Games if he repeated wearing gloves bearing the message "Save Gaza".
Awang could have been ejected from the 2014 Glasgow Games after wearing the gloves in competition on Thursday.
Instead the 26-year-old was given a reprimand and warned not to wear them again.
Though Awang insisted his message was "humanitarian" rather than politically-charged, he issued an apology.
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Well done Moeen Ali...brave lad...well played today as well..keep it up ..Shabash!
@goldconsumer - " Indians safronizing faster than the Nazis and the apartheids…"
That's badly needed to confront a Pakistan, Islamised 60 yrs back...
@sharabi: Indians safronizing faster than the Nazis and the apartheids...
@Hin:
Hold on ...hold on...talking on principals, if any player wants to play under ICC banner he must follow ICC code of uniform...simple.
But those in Pakistan, who are "passionate" about people in GAZA, shouldn't they be more passionate about their fellow Pakistani who are being persecuted for no reason??
@Haider: Fight? Against whom? With what? The first rule is to know your enemy. Trouble is, you are living in the past - at least when it comes to perceiving yourselves. You think you can wage a war with the rest of the world and win? It is obvious that Muslims always want to fight - no matter what the issue. But the days of horses, swords and sandals are over. You had your time in the sun. Others have gone ahead. Today it is the age of intellect and information. Equip yourself first and you can think about fighting later. I really feel for the people of Gaza. The innocent women and children are paying the price for the policies of Hamas. But what are they fighting for in the first place? Their country? They have never been a country. Coming from such dodgy historical roots, they should be making peace with Israel instead of needling them with rockets.
@Turbo: he will not do what you want him to do. he will do what he believes in. if he does not believe in others and believes in gaza, then why should he wear things for all of them? its like saying if i am unable to solve all the problems in the world, i will not solve any. weak argument.
Keep politics and sports separated.
His free will. He can support whom ever he wants. If some one wants to show solidarity regarding Iraqis, Syrians etc then its up to them.
P.S typical subcontinent mentality to brag issues in everything. May be our complex or we just are so pessimists about it. If some one wants to highlight an issue than surely let him/her do. He is not responsible for entire Muslim world More importantly is a Britisher not Pakistani and he doesn't own any sh*t happens in Pakistan.
@Muhammad Saim: Yes, all in favor of that if cricketers can wear 'Stop Killing Kashmiris' and 'Stop Raping little Indian girls' wrist bands. But are they passionate about these causes? Moin Ali is clearly passionate about Gaza and the killing of innocents there, no one has had to 'advocate' anything to him, biased people are instead trying their best to ban him from being passionate about his cause. Your argument makes no sense at all, if someone is passionate about a cause, he should be allowed to wear whatever he wants. If a player is in favor of Israel killing innocent civilians then let him wear a wrist band for it.
There is nothing political about Save Gaza band that Ali wore. More than 900 innocent civilians including 300 hundred children being killed is a Humanitarian Issue, not a political. How would the world react if hundreds of innocent Chritians were killedon Christmas Day?. It is ICC and Australian referee involved who are doing politics. The shooting down of MH17, resulting in death of 298 innocent passengers was as brutal and savage as the planned aerial bombing of schools used to shelter displaced Palestinians.
@sharabi: naive baita.. wakeup its time to pay
@Turbo:
Would you also advocate cricketers wearing band "stop Killing Ahmadies in Pakistan"???
@Professor: Say it slowly: Little Children KILLED WHILE PLAYING ON BEACH ! Maybe that will sink into your brain. There are 1300 ++ dead CIVILIANS in Gaza and you are asking what does "Free Palestine" mean?
@Turbo: If someone wears band for Israel, then ..........
Muslims, especially when they are sportsmen, need to learn to see things from a neutral perspective, and avoid forming narrow exclusionist opinions. Sports is no place to wear religion or politics on your sleeves.
There is a place for everything. On a cricket ground you play cricket not politics. Not too unlike Mr.Imran Khan who plays cricket in politics.
England is famous for freedom of speech and he should be allowed to wear non sponsored wrist bands. I am against terrorism of any form but I am for freedom of speech.
ET thanks that you are so democratic and open that you provide enough space for pro-israeli opinions that even western media cannot compete you. These funded comments by Indians are also given equal importance. Funded!!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!! O yes you can check these accounts on twitter that theses accounts continuously post against muslims. Show courage and post my comment ET.
As if Boycotting South Africa by Cricketing World for 20 Years on the grounds of "Apartheid" was not plitical ?
what next ? save TTP,free Baluchistan ?
Can you believe how much control every organization is trying to keep so word doesnt get out in any possible way? Its amazing how we are living along side sub- animals.
@bull: Not much to expect from this self declared messiahs in the Muslim world.
Why is he playing cricket ? He should go to Gaza and extend the real support.
Save ahmedis in Pakistan would have been a better slogan.
Huge respect for Moeen Ali!
@Sharabi,
If race, cast, color and creed could have been kept out of sports - South Africa would never have been banned for apartheid.
Why no such support for Iraqi Shias dying at hands of Sunni Militants ? Ah yes ofcourse since the aggressor and victim are both Muslims, it has to be all right.
That is a very stupid logic. If he starts wearing a wristband for every atrocity in the world then he will end up wearing dozens of them all over his arms and rest of the body as well.
If wearing one band is double standard, then tell how many bands are you wearing?
@bull: I'm certain he's against that too. I am against that too! So what's your point?
Moen Ali is Bold cricketer than many so called leaders. IK watched the match at lords but no such statement was given by him in London against Israel. All he spoke was only before local media.
Wonder what will be the reaction if some one wears "Save Gaza from Hamas"
@bull
You hit the Bull's Eye. But logic was never a strong point with believers.
What an unprofessional thing to do. Shias and Ahmedis are killed in Pakistan brutally and Gaza is the only thing which everyone speaks out for. First do your own laundry and then seek to help outside.
Why not first wear band for 'Save Hazaras' or 'Save Ahmedis' Moeen Ali needs to first help Pakistanis and then later help others.
Who will wear wrist bands for the Shias, Ahmedias, Christians and Hindus of Pakistan? What about protesting the murderous ISIS wholesale eviction of Christians?
Keep doing such stuff and you will be kicked regularly .
I wonder what are Moeen Ali's views of the slaughter of Ahmadiyas, Christians and other minorities in Pakistan.
@Haider: Unite and do what? Muslims are already on very shaky ground around the world. The best thing to do now is keep a low profile and be law-abiding citizens.
Muslim sportsmen can never leave there religion out of even a sporting even let alone the game..
@bull:
I recommend consulting a dictionary and see what "Double Standard" means, and in what context you can use this word.
PS: Syrians need to be saved both from a brutal Bathist dictator as well as Islamic fanatics, who want to install another form of dictatorship.
Ordinary Syrians want (and deserve) democracy.
what if yousuf yohanna wore a band saying Islamic persecution.
Pakistan should protest in UN against this. Where was ICC when Henry Olonga wore black band during 2003 world cup?
@Turbo: Comparing Cancer with terrorism....dont tell me you are on a high with Afghan poppies
salute to Moeen Ali for even trying. well done man you have conveyed your message around the world even without wearing that is the power of the truth and courgoues message.
Why Pak players are not allowed to play in IPL and why English team wears black ribbons when playing against Zimbabwe. Is that not politics?
This shows double standards from Moeen Ali why not wear save Iraq from ISIS, Save Syria from rebels, more than 10 times people (Muslims) have been killed by these terrorists compared to Israel, if you choose to criticize then criticize killing no matter who kill's or who has been killed.
well if cricketers can wear pink stuff for the McGrath foundation against cancer...why can't he wear a band in protest the genocide of a 1000 people by a tiny thug country?
Good keep Politics, Religion, Race, Cast, Ideology out of Sports.
May be ICC should look into the intentions of match referee David Boon