The AFC levied a fine of $1,500 against Al-Mardi after he displayed a pro-Palestine slogan during the match against Malaysia on January 15.
After scoring his team’s third goal in the 32nd minute, Al-Mardi lifted his shirt to reveal the slogan “The cause of the honorable”, a reference to the Palestinian cause.
Reacting to the financial penalty, Al-Mardi told al-Watan newspaper that he was not saddened by the punishment at all and even expected a harsher one.
“Don’t you worry,” he said, addressing the Palestinian people, before expressing regret that he has not done more for their cause.
Nearly 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Zionist regime’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip since October 7.
The regime has faced charges of war crimes and genocide against Palestinian people in the course of its bloody war on the besieged territory.
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