'Respect their views'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defended Paul Pogba and Amad Diallo for holding up a Palestine flag after Manchester United drew 1-1 with Fulham, saying they have a "right to have a different view."

Pogba appeared to have been given the flag by a fan as the players made their way around the pitch during the traditional lap of honor after the club's last home game of the English Premier League season.

Frenchman Pogba and Ivory Coast winger Diallo, who are both Muslim, displayed the flag in support of Palestine in the ongoing conflict with Israel, with around 10,000 fans at Old Trafford watching on after coronavirus restrictions were lifted.

"We have players from different backgrounds, different cultures, different countries and we need to respect their views if they differ from someone else's," said Solskjaer.

"If my players think about other things than football, that's a positive thing."

The United manager cited the example of striker Marcus Rashford, whose campaign against child food poverty in Britain has made an impact in tackling the problem.

"So, no, we respect their right to have a different view," Solskjaer added.

Israel's bombing campaign on Gaza has killed at least 219 Palestinians, including 63 children, in more than a week of fighting against Islamist group Hamas, according to the territory's health ministry in Gaza.

Palestinian rocket fire has killed 12 people in Israel, Israeli police said.

Pogba and Diallo are the latest footballers to show their support for the Palestinians.

English midfielder Hamza Choudhury and French defender Wesley Fofana held a Palestinian flag on the pitch at Wembley after Leicester's 1-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

A social media post from Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny showing his support for the Palestinian people has been hit by a backlash from Jewish fans. "My heart and my soul and my support for you Palestine," the Egyptian posted on Twitter.