In a context of security concerns around sporting events in Europe, due to tensions in the Middle East, Internet users are welcoming on Facebook the message of support which would have been sent to Israel during a Football match in Italy. They claim, with supporting image, that a banner in solidarity with the hostages held in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, would have been deployed there. But this is false: the image in question is a montage generated by artificial intelligence.
“There are the Belgians who ban the match on their soil… there is France who is freaking out about the next meeting… and then there are the Italians…“, “Tifo unfolded during the match Italy vs Israel, grazie mille, fratelli d’Italia!“, support Internet users in various Facebook publications (1, 2, 3), commenting on an image supposed to have been taken during the Italy-Israel meeting of October 14, 2024, in the Football Nations League.
We see, in addition to the players on the field, a large flag of Italy with a Star of David unfurled in the stands, and, in the upper stands, a banner with the inscription in Italian “Ricordiamo gli ostaggi” (“Ricordiamo gli ostaggi” (“Ricordiamo gli ostaggi”). We remember the hostages”), in reference to the hundred hostages still held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, one year after the Palestinian movement’s attack against Israel on October 7, 2023.
But if Israel and the Squadra Azurra played a Nations League match on October 14 in Udine, Italy, won 4-1 by the host country (archived link), this image was generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and therefore features a fictitious message of support.
Multiple characteristic elements of an AI creation
Several details betray the artificial nature of the alleged cliché.
Starting with the disjointed or incoherent silhouettes of certain players on the pitch.
The so-called advertisements visible in the stands are also illegible.
We can also cite the fact that the stadium spectators all have the same appearance and outfit.
Several clues allow you to identify an AI creation, as we explain in a guide on this subject.
Finally, the architecture of the sports venue visible in the image does not correspond to that of the Bluenergy stadium in Udine, as can be seen in particular on an Instagram publication from the local team (archived link) or even on the photo below taken by AFP at the end of September 2024.
ANDREA PATTAROAFP
A gesture of solidarity during the Israeli anthem
As reported by the media The Times of Israel (archived link), a gesture of solidarity did, however, take place in the stadium during the Israeli anthem. First greeted by a few whistles, he was then applauded by part of the public and by three Italian players.
A scene that can be seen in the images shared by the Israeli Football Federation on its Instagram account (archived link).
As reported by the media / (archived link), around two thousand people marched in Udine before the match, during a pro-Palestinian march.
In France, the France-Israel football match scheduled for the League of Nations at the Stade de France on November 14 will be supervised by “an extremely reinforced security system”, the police prefect indicated on October 17 (archived link). Laurent Nuñez, referring to a “high-risk match” in the context of war in the Middle East.
Already in July, during the Paris Olympic Games, a thousand police and gendarmes were mobilized for the men’s football match between Mali and Israel at the Parc des Princes, due to calls for “mobilization” against the presence of the Israeli delegation in France because of the war in Gaza. No notable incidents had been reported.
On the other hand, in September, Belgium’s home match against Israel for the first day of the League of Nations was relocated to Debrecen, Hungary, and was played behind closed doors, after the refusal of several Belgian cities to welcome the meeting, for fear of excesses.
