PALESTINE rights campaigners will be joined by members of the Easton Cowgirls and Cowboys football team at a boycott Puma protest in Broadmead, Bristol today.

The local football team and sports organisation will gather in their sports kits to join the protest by Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign outside the Sports Direct store, which stocks products by Puma, in Broadmead shopping centre.

The action is part of nationwide protests outside Puma outlets and stockists.

More than 200 Palestinian football teams have called on the sports apparel company to end its sponsorship of the Israel Football Association (IFA) and therefore Israeli war crimes.

The IFA includes football teams that are based in illegal settlements across the West Bank and host matches on land stolen from Palestinians.

Campaigner Helen Green, from Horfield, said: “Discrimination is not compatible with sport.

“Just as with the protests and boycotts against Apartheid in South Africa, we are against Puma’s sponsorship of the IFA which fundamentally undermines the ethos of sport and fairness.”

Easton Cowgirls member Sooz said: “Having played football in Palestine, we have witnessed first-hand the devastating effects the illegal occupation has on the daily lives of Palestinians, including the simple act of playing football.

“In most countries travelling to a football ground, stadium or even your local park for a kick-about is an everyday occurrence.

“In Palestine where checkpoints and roadblocks inhibit movement and freedoms daily, this is not the case.

“We fully support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and call on Puma to end their sponsorship of the Israeli IFA, which includes teams in Israel’s illegal settlements on occupied Palestinian land.”