George Norcross, the Democratic Party organizer who was banned from Sunday’s Philadelphia Eagles game for hanging an Israeli flag in his suite, is now threatening to sue the NFL, the team and a security company over the incident.
Spokespeople for the NFL and the Eagles did not immediately respond to Mail Sport’s request for comment.
In a statement released Monday after the Eagles’ win over the visiting Dallas Cowboys, Norcross questioned the team and the league and urged “supporters of Israel to express their feelings toward both.”
“Yesterday I was forcibly removed and assaulted by non-police security personnel at Lincoln Financial Field and the Eagles/NFL because I refused to remove a 3″ x 5″ American and Israeli flag that I had attached to the box in which I was sitting , had hung up. ‘ wrote the influential 67-year-old.
Norcross, a staunch defender of Israel who paraded an American-Israeli flag at the game before hanging it on his suite, continued to accuse the NFL of promoting social justice for other groups while ignoring the plight of Israelis amid the country’s armed forces ignored conflict with Palestine.
Norcross, 67, was named “New Jersey’s most powerful unelected person” as recently as 2023
Norcross was seen in a video posted to X being escorted for flying an American-Israeli flag on Sunday
“As a long-time passionate fan and season ticket holder, I have watched the Eagles/NFL make clear and strong statements on numerous important civil justice issues, as well as ethnic and global conflicts, including support for the Ukrainian people. As a strong supporter of Israel — a country that was brutally attacked by the terrorist group Hamas less than a month ago — I thought it was an important statement,” Norcross continued.
“It remains unclear why the Eagles/NFL believe that the American-Israeli flag should be considered ‘obscene or indecent’ or otherwise inappropriate – which I have been quoted as saying – and should therefore be taken down, despite both making clear public statements have.” Support for Israel after the October 7 attacks.
“But as I consider whether to file a lawsuit against the Philadelphia Eagles, the NFL and the security company that plucked me from the penalty box and paraded me in front of thousands of fans, I urge other supporters of Israel to express their feelings toward Israel the Philadelphia Eagles team and the NFL as well as at universities like Penn and Harvard.’
Norcross ended his statement by defending Israel’s military response in Gaza, where more than 10,000 people are believed to have died in the four weeks since Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack. “There is no doubt: On October 7, Hamas murdered innocent Israeli civilians, raped women and slaughtered children, and continues to hold hostages,” Norcross said. “I believe that Israel has the right to defend itself, just as the United States did after the September 11 attacks, and I will remain a proud and vocal defender of its right to do so.”
“Americans have the right to peacefully protest, but that does not include the right to threaten people with bodily harm or even death.”
Norcross has ties to many politicians, including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
Norcross has been called New Jersey’s “most powerful unelected person” and is often sought by New Jersey Democrats for his endorsements and fundraising.
On Sunday, he was seen being escorted from his luxury suite in a video posted on social media. Security guards were also seen tearing up his display as they escorted him out of the box.
Earlier in the day, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stood for an interview with a reporter on a televised pregame show with the same flag clearly visible in the background.
According to New Jersey Globe reporter David Wildstein, it could have come from Norcross himself, as he often leads a tailgate before Philadelphia Eagles games.
Norcross’s strength lies in southern New Jersey and particularly in Camden, which is just five miles from Philadelphia.
There are no specific policies against the flag at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles play, but there are rules regarding signs and banners.
An American-Israeli flag was unfurled behind Christie – possibly by Norcross himself
“Signs, banners or similar items that are obscene or indecent, unrelated to the event, potentially offensive to other guests, likely to block the view of other fans, or otherwise deemed dangerous or inappropriate by the Eagles prohibited,” their 2014 guidelines state.
“Lincoln Financial Field reserves the right to confiscate any sign that violates stadium policy.”
Only America’s top soccer league, Major League Soccer, has responded to Hamas’ shock attack that killed 1,400 Israelis on Oct. 7 with a specific policy toward Israeli and Palestinian flags.
The league changed its fan code of conduct and temporarily banned “flags representing a country or nationality at MLS games.”
Abroad, the English Premier League has also banned Israeli and Palestinian flags for the time being.