Two singers who performed as part of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden on Tuesday were reprimanded by event organizers for wearing pro-Palestinian symbols. Opening act performer Eric Saade wore a kaffiyeh—a headscarf that can be a symbol of Palestinian solidarity—on his wrist during the show Tuesday. And Irish contestant Bambie Thug told reporters that same night that contest organizers “ordered” them to change their stage make-up before their semi-final performance because of its pro-Palestine references, according to BBC. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the international songwriting competition, admonished both performers for donning the attire during what they insist should remain an apolitical event. An EBU spokesperson tells TIME that Saade didn’t wear a kaffiyeh during his rehearsals, but “put it on without anyone noticing before the live broadcast.” “We regret that Eric Saade chose to compromise the non-political nature of the event,” the spokesperson says in an emailed statement.