ISRAEL – Madonna also performed just before the voting results were announced. A section of her performance in which her backing dancers displayed Israeli and Palestinian flags was not an approved part of the act, organisers said.
Eurovision said: “In the live broadcast of the Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final, two of Madonna’s dancers briefly displayed the Israeli and Palestinian flags on the back of their outfits. This element of the performance was not part of the rehearsals which had been cleared with the EBU and the host broadcaster, KAN. The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political event and Madonna had been made aware of this.”
It wasn’t just the Queen of Pop who was apparently breaking the rules either.
The organisers said Iceland’s Eurovision act could face punishment after displaying Palestinian flags during the live broadcast. During the live final, the band members held up Palestinian flags while their public vote was being announced. In a statement, Eurovision said the “consequences of this action” will be discussed by the contest’s executive board.
