Posted on YouTube: September 14, 2017
Here in America, kids adopt the colors of the New York Yankees, or the Dallas Cowboys, their sports heroes.
In Chile, they adopt the colors of Club Deportive Palestino (Palestinian Sports Club) or as the Chileans abbreviate it, CD Palestino. Notice the black, green, white, and red jerseys (the Euros say kit) of CD Palestino, it is the same colors found on the Palestinian flag.
The kids are rooting:
TINO, TINO, PALESTINO!
CD Palestino was originally formed in 1920 in Osorno, Chile. By the 1950s, it had become a professional soccer team. Originally, it took its players from members of the Palestinian-Chilean community; though in time, it opened up its ranks to others.
Its home turf, now, is a municipal stadium in Metro Santiago [Chile’s capital] called La Cisterna, which seats about 12,000. That may not sound like a lot to American ears, but Chile has roughly 1/20th the population of the United States, so proportionally the team is equivalent to an American sports franchise.
This is not some minor squad. In 2015, CD Palestino made it to the playoffs of South America’s Copa Liberatadores (Liberators’ Cup), a major transnational soccer tournament in Latin America.
Over the decades a whole subculture has evolved around this team.
Posted by Latin Arabia on YouTube: August 4, 2012
Because the Palestinian-Chilean community is hostile to Israel, the team has become embroiled in Mideast politics, which is kind of odd if you think about it, being 8,000 miles away from the Mideast.
The Chilean team has a strong following among the local Palestinians in the Mideast territories. Moreover, members of CD Palestino have visited the territories, with some playing on Palestinian teams as well.
(An archive) posted by AP on YouTube: December 23, 2016
Right now, the team is trying to bring soil from Palestine in order cover their field – as a symbol that Palestine is in their hearts. I kid you not. (See video below)
Posted on YouTube: December 13, 2017
There was an Arab version of the above video, but it was taken down, after I linked to it.
So instead, I will link to this Arab video which is about CD Palestino. The Palestinians love this team. I do not speak Arabic, but the video gives some history. It mentions that the team was founded in 1920. It mentions the jersey controversy where the team replaced the number 1 with a map of Palestine, erasing all of Israel. Clearly, this team is politicized; and in doing so, has won the affections of the Arab world, while earning the displeasure of the Jewish community.
Posted on YouTube: January 21, 2014
As anyone can see, CD Palestino is a politically charged team.
The Palestinians of Chile are roughly 99% Christian, and very prosperous; but they are highly radicalized against Israel. They have used their power to influence the rest of Chile. Hence, you see non-Arab children above shouting, “Tino, Tino, Palestino!”
Right now, as part of their campaign to bring the soil of Palestine to their playing field (the Euros call it pitch), they have this webpage up.
Screenshot: In English – Our Field, Our Land – Or you can go to the English version of the page (Click Here)
“Our Field. Our Land.”
Apparently, the Palestinians in Chile do not recognize Israel at all. As noted here on Latin Arabia (Click Here), the team once wore a jersey (kit) that erased Israel, and claimed all of Palestine on a map on the back of their jersey. They were fined, and told to stop wearing the Jersey.
But they still sell the offending jersey. (Click Here). The map on the back claims all of Palestine. Nothing is left for Israel.
The question should arise: Why would a 99% Christian community field a team which has a mosque prominently displayed on their sports site?
What is clear is that in the past few years, the fame of CD Palestino has spread across the planet, so much so that they now have an English language version of their website. Among those who hate Israel, wearing a CD Palestino jersey (kit) has become a bit of a political statement.
As CD Palestino boasts they have become: (Más Que Un Club) More than a club!.
That is a real understatement.
The Palestinian-Chilean Community is highly radicalized against Israel, and their soccer team is a lightning rod for this. This is almost unknown in the USA; but, whether you disagree or agree with their anti-Zionism, this is a very politically important soccer team.
September 1, 2020 – Had to replace a dead video, clean up links, and made some edits.
May 26, 2024 – Had to correct a date underneath a video.