As Ella Ajaje, a Palestinian Australian, attempted to enter the stadium just after 4.30pm on Sunday, a guard refused her entry, referring to her shirt and \u201cthe fact it\u2019s got Palestine\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels really upsetting to be asked to take it off,\u201d Ella said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s sad you can\u2019t represent your culture. The rule was only applying to me because I was wearing \u2018Palestine\u2019 [flag colours].\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith everything that is happening with Palestine, it\u2019s so sad to see how heartless people can be.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Teenage](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768975449_863_1919.jpg\")
Teenage girl wearing jersey with Palestinian flag refused entry to Sydney A-League game \u2013\u00a0video<\/p>\n
Her uncle, Rumzi Hajaj, recorded part of the incident, and in the video seen by Guardian Australia, the guard could be heard saying: \u201cIt\u2019s not the dress code. It\u2019s the fact it\u2019s got Palestine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t allow countries in here other than Australia,\u201d the guard could be heard telling another man who intervened.<\/p>\n
The guard could also be heard saying \u201cthat\u2019s been that policy for years, so we don\u2019t have fights between Croatia, Serbia \u2026\u201d before being interrupted.<\/p>\n
A second security guard later told Hajaj\u2019s niece she could enter the stadium if she agreed to remove her jersey.<\/p>\n
She agreed, and took off the shirt before entering the stadium for the Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC match. She later put the jersey back on and had no other trouble with security.<\/p>\n
The Australian Professional Leagues, which operates the A-League, said it was currently discussing the incident with the venue and takes \u201cpride in our multicultural fanbase\u201d.<\/p>\n
Its chief executive, Steve Rosich, said it had \u201ca \u2018restricted items\u2019 list as part of our terms of admission which are prohibited by law and are not permitted by venues across the country\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that venue security still deemed the item in this matter to be restricted \u2013 which we are discussing separately with the venue \u2013 but the young fan was ultimately permitted to enter the stadium after removing the item,\u201d Rosich said in a statement.<\/p>\n