Roger Wade – banned for wearing a football shirt

⁠ Seagulls Against Apartheid are shocked that a long-term, Albion season ticket holder has been banned just for wearing a football shirt.

Roger Wade wore an official Palestine team shirt but kept his jacket on in hospitality to keep within BHAFC corporate rules. Once in his seat he took his jacket off but at half time, stewards asked him to leave the hospitality area, with no explanation. He filed a complaint to BHAFC and instead of a response received a banning order.

The double standards are appalling.

You get a five game ban for wearing a football shirt whilst Tomer Hemed (current BHAFC Academy Mentor) expresses racist and genocidal comments about Palestinians on his social media and receives no sanctions whatsoever: Tomer Hemed’s inflammatory social media posts.

Palestine is an official FIFA member, and takes part in international competition.

‘Palestine’ is no more a political statement than ‘Ukraine’. And yet, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 the Premier League encouraged the wearing of Ukraine shirts and colours.

SAA extend our full support to Roger Wade and ask BHAFC to immediately withdraw the ban.

Roger Wade, founder of @Boxfresh, has been banned from Brighton & Hove Albion for 5 games for wearing a Palestine football kit.

A ST holder for 10 years, he was pulled out mid-game with no explanation. Instead of dialogue, the club sent him a ban letter. @OfficialBHAFC pic.twitter.com/onqe2r4L51

— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) August 25, 2025