"Performer" unfurls Palestine, Sudan flag at Super Bowl, faces permanent NFL ban
The NFL and Roc Nation, which co-produced the event, stated that the act was not planned or sanctioned as part of the production.
SHAH ALAM – The National Football League (NFL) has permanently banned a performer who displayed a flag supporting Gaza and Sudan during the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The individual, part of the on-stage performance, was removed from the venue and is now barred from attending any future NFL games or events.
According to sports news outlet GiveMeSport, the performer was positioned atop a GNX car on stage, dressed similarly to other backup dancers.
During the show, he jumped down and unfurled a flag with the words “Sudan” and “Gaza,” drawing attention to the ongoing conflicts in both regions.
Security immediately intervened, tackling him before police escorted him out of the Caesars Superdome.
Reports from The US Sun confirmed that he was one of 400 cast members involved in the halftime show.
The NFL and Roc Nation, which co-produced the event, stated that the act was not planned or sanctioned as part of the production.
Despite the disruption, the performance continued without further incidents.
“The individual hid the item on his person and unveiled it late in the show.
“No one involved with the production was aware of the individual’s intent," NFL reportedly stated.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy confirmed that the performer would be banned for life from all NFL stadiums and events.
However, New Orleans police announced that no criminal charges would be filed.
Following the incident, Al Jazeera interviewed the performer, identified as Zul-Qarnain Nantambu.
In a video uploaded to YouTube on Feb 11, he described his reasons for staging the protest.
Nantambu stated that he viewed the halftime show as a powerful platform to raise awareness about the suffering of people in Gaza and Sudan.
“As a Muslim, Prophet Muhammad teaches us that if we see wrongdoing, we must take action.
“If you're aware of any wrongdoing, you must stop it with your own hands. If you can’t stop it with your hands, stop it with your tongue. If you can’t stop it with your tongue, then at least stop it with your heart and pray about it," he said.
He described his protest as an act of solidarity with oppressed communities worldwide, expressing a deep connection to those affected by war and displacement.
“We’re spiritually connected in Islam, and beyond that, we’re all human. We must empathise with one another,” he added.
Nantambu also hoped his actions would prompt more people to acknowledge and address humanitarian crises.
He stressed that many are suffering on a large scale, yet their struggles do not receive the attention they deserve.
“I wanted to show solidarity with those afflicted, their families, and loved ones. They need to know that they are remembered—not just by me, but by many others,” he said.
The NFL has previously disciplined players and performers for making political statements during games.
This latest incident has reignited debate about freedom of expression in major sporting events.
The genocide in Gaza, which began in 2023 with a Hamas-led operation on Israel, has resulted in devastating Israeli retaliatory strikes, leaving over 47,000 Palestinians dead.
A ceasefire declared in January 2025 remains in effect, though tensions persist, especially after former President Donald Trump suggested the US might "buy and own Gaza," complicating peace talks.
In Sudan, an ongoing power struggle between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since 2023 has killed over 28,000 people, with intensified fighting near Khartoum leading to rising civilian casualties and urgent United Nations calls for a ceasefire.
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
