WSOP Threatened to Disqualify Justin Bonomo for Pro-Palestine Scarf

Poker player Justin Bonomo said Wednesday he was threatened with disqualification from the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event for wearing a keffiyeh, an Arab headdress.

The distinctly patterned black and white variety keffiyeh that Bonomo was sporting at the table is a traditional Palestinian garment and has been worn as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

As Bonomo got deeper in the tournament, he suggested on social media the keffiyeh was bringing him luck.

Bonomo was down to the last 16 players in the $25K event at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas when he was told to ditch the scarf because the WSOP didn’t want anything political on the televised final table.

Poker Politics

The 39-year-old American did make the final and will return today to play for a $6 million first prize, begrudgingly minus his scarf. On Wednesday evening, however, he asked his X followers whether anyone in the Bahamas could get him a Palestinian flag, so watch this space.

The request for removal of Mr. Bonomo’s keffiyeh once he reached the TV production table was simply a matter of broadcast clearance,” the WSOP said in a statement on Wednesday night. “Our future distribution platforms for Super Main Event do not allow garments deemed controversial or political in nature.”

Section 54d of the official WSOP rulebook states: “Host Properties reserve the right at all times to impose a ban on any apparel deemed objectionable by Host Properties, in its sole and absolute discretion. Host Properties reserve the right to refuse entry or continued participation in an Event to any Participant who does not comply with the aforementioned apparel rules.”

Charity Tournament Controversy 

Bonomo’s public show of support for Palestine may stem from the WSOP’s decision to hold a charity tournament to raise money for IDF Widows and Orphans, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the families of fallen Israeli soldiers.

Bonomo described the decision as “monstrous” and labeled the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) a “genocidal terrorist organization” that had “obliterated Gaza.”

But according to fellow player Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, who operates on the opposite end of the political spectrum, it’s Bonomo who is supporting terrorism.

He should not be allowed to play poker tourneys!” Matusow tweeted. “Can’t wait for Trump to throw people who support terrorism in jail! Maybe Jihadomo will be first!”

Bonomo isn’t the first poker player to stir up controversy with a pro-Palestine garment. Back in 2014, Oliver Busquet inspired PokerStars to revise its dress code after he wore a “Free Gaza” T-shirt to the EPT Super High Roller Event in Barcelona and won the whole thing.

“Players have many channels to express their views on world politics, but our tournaments are not an appropriate place,” PokerStars said afterward.

Busquet suggested it was “worth having the conversation about whether it’s appropriate or not.”