Finals of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship between the Netherlands vs. Serbia. Photo: wiki commons.

Three protesters crashed an official dinner for European football’s leaders in London on Friday night to protest next month’s European Under 21 Championship in Israel.

According to the Daily Mail, one protester jumped on the stage and started shouting slogans, while another stood behind UEFA president Michel Platini with a flag.

UEFA said in a statement: “Three people caused a minor disturbance at the UEFA Congress dinner last night. They were quickly apprehended and arrested by the police.”

One guest at the event told the Daily Mail: “It was between courses and suddenly this man and woman got on the stage and started shouting things against Israel. Another had a flag and was standing behind Platini.

“Everyone was gobsmacked. It seemed to go on for a few minutes before they were removed.

“It was a bit of a security lapse to say the least. They were smartly dressed in suits but no one could understand how they had got in because we all had to show our invitations.”

A protest had also been staged outside the UEFA Congress earlier in the day by another anti-Israel group.

A spokesman said of the incident: “At approximately 10pm a 24-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman evaded private security at the UEFA Champions League Celebrity Party, being held at Billingsgate Market in the City of London, and managed to reach the stage and launch a protest.

“They were quickly ejected from the event by the private security and the event organizers made a complaint to the City of London Police.

“Shortly after the man was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and the woman on suspicion of aggravated trespass and assault.

“Both are currently being held in custody and the City of London Police are now investigating the circumstances of the incident.”