With the world’s attention focused on the bloody conflict in Gaza, it was inevitable that some footballer somewhere would dip his toe into the maelstrom with something other than the usual bland “let’s all pray for peace” schtick.

On Wednesday, Frédéric Kanouté, the Seville striker, while celebrating a goal against Deportivo La Coruña, lifted his jersey to reveal a T-shirt that read “Palestine”. Note, it didn’t read “May my Palestinian brothers drive the Israelis into the sea” or “Hamas: More Rockets Please” or even just “Free Palestine”. Simply “Palestine”.

Despite receiving support from Raphael Schultz, Israel’s ambassador to Spain, who said that he did not consider Kanouté’s “gesture as an incitement to violence”, the former Tottenham Hotspur striker was fined just under £3,000. Then again, the Spanish FA had little choice: regulations state that “revealing messages of a religious or political nature on the pitch is strictly prohibited during the time of play.”

Contrast this with the actions of Nicola Legrottaglie, the Juventus defender. Now, Legrottaglie is an evangelical Christian and a “born-again virgin” (he has been celibate for three years) who leads a weekly Bible study group. When asked about the violence in Gaza, he told an Italian newspaper: “I knew this was going to happen. It was foretold in the Bible. The people of Israel were once God’s chosen people. But they failed to recognise Him and now they’re paying the consequences.”

As biblical interpretations go, it is uncomfortably close to the “Jews-killed-Jesus” mentality that provided the flimsy intellectual basis for much of European antiSemitism over the past 2,000 years or so. Yet, because he wasn’t parading around the pitch wearing that message on a T-shirt, Legrottaglie escaped sanction.

Unsurprisingly, a few hours after the interview, he clarified his comments. “I didn’t mean to use the Bible to justify the conflict and I didn’t mean to comment on such dramatic events in such a simplistic way,” he said, clever enough to realise what he had done.

“I respect Israel and I hope they can find peace. I’m sorry that, once again, my words have been misunderstood and that this misunderstanding hurt people I did not mean to hurt. As a Christian, I love peace and respect the rights of all peoples to have their own nation.”

You can make up your own mind about Legrottaglie’s climbdown. I don’t know him personally, but I have spoken to people who know him well and they say he’s a perfectly nice, harmless guy with unorthodox religious views. Typically, when I talked to one of his teammates, he found Legrottaglie’s aversion to sex more shocking than his biblical musings. Obviously, if you happen to be a Christian whose interpretation of the Bible is somewhat less than main-stream, it is a good idea to keep your mouth shut. We know of at least one former England manager who will no doubt confirm this.

The point, however, is another one. Even without his clarification, footballing authorities would have been powerless to discipline Legrottaglie: he’s just a private citizen voicing his own religious views on his own time. He has freedom of speech and freedom of religion working on his behalf. Kanouté, on the other hand, got to feel the full force of football’s disciplinary code.

What is wrong with this picture? Whose words are more inflammatory or, indeed, offensive? The man who wears the name of a state that doesn’t exist, or the man who implies that Israelis are getting killed today because their ancestors didn’t recognise Jesus as their Messiah?

Sport has always had a tricky relationship with politics, dating back to Tommie Smith and John Carlos and their “black power” salute on the podium at the 1968 Olympics.

Football’s authorities impose a blanket ban on political statements at matches because they do not want to get involved in value judgments over what is and is not acceptable. And that is understandable. Still, if it were not for the fact that he can easily afford the fine, you can see why some would feel a little sorry for Kanouté. Equally, we would probably feel a little more comfortable if Legrottaglie had never spoken those words, regardless of whether he was “misunderstood” or not.

And another thing…

A small cost to pay for the rebuilding of dreams

Speaking of the conflict in Gaza, the Palestinian National Stadium has been bombed again, as it was in 2006, and is now little more than a pile of rubble. Fifa has pledged to help to rebuild it once the madness is over. But maybe football can do a little more.

How about a ten euro cent (about 9p) voluntary surcharge on all tickets sold at professional matches in all European countries between now and the end of the season? By my count, even if only a third of supporters participated, the four highest levels of English football alone could contribute in excess of €500,000. Throw in what could be raised among other countries and you could probably put together well in excess of €2 million between now and June. Given that the facility cost €2 million to build in 2005, that could go some way towards giving Palestinian athletes a place to train, not to mention a dream to pursue again.

Abreu’s journey continues

I have no idea if it is a record, but Sebastián Abreu, the Uruguay striker, joined Real Sociedad last week, the nineteenth move of a 13-year career. The man called “El Loco” (The Madman) has played for 16 clubs in six countries on four continents and, at 32, could yet add to that total. Have boots, will travel.

Times Online