Israeli soccer club's ‘murderers' banner described as ‘scandalous' by Polish president

New York Times

3 days ago

Polish President Karol Nawrocki says a 'scandalous' banner from fans of Israeli soccer club Maccabi Haifa insulted his nation's victims of the Second World War.
Maccabi Haifa fans unveiled a banner reading 'Murderers since 1939' in their Conference League match against Polish club Rakow Czestochowa on Thursday.
'The scandalous banner displayed by Maccabi Haifa fans insults the memory of Polish citizens — victims of World War Two, including three million Jews,' Nawrocki, a historian who previously headed the state's Institute of National Remembrance, posted on X. 'Stupidity that no words can justify.'
Skandaliczny transparent wywieszony przez kibiców Maccabi Hajfa obraża pamięć o obywatelach polskich-ofiarach II wojny światowej, wśród których było 3 mln Żydów. Głupota, której nie tłumaczą żadne słowa.
— Karol Nawrocki (@NawrockiKn) August 14, 2025
Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union following an invasion in September 1939. Around six million Poles — roughly a fifth of the nation's pre-war population — died during World War Two, including approximately 3.2 million Polish Jews killed in The Holocaust.
The nation's Jewish population was the largest in Europe at the start of the war and almost all were killed during the atrocities, many of them in Nazi death camps.
Thursday's match, designated as the 'home' game for Maccabi Haifa, was played in Debrecen, Hungary, for security reasons due to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. No matches in UEFA competitions can be held in Israel due to the situation.
Skandaliczny transparent izraelskich kibiców podczas meczu Maccabi Haifa z Rakowem Częstochowa: pic.twitter.com/chZlelUYuv
— OficjalneZero (@OficjalneZero) August 14, 2025
Poland's interior minister, Marcin Kierwinski, said the 'anti-Polonism' banner was a 'scandalous distortion of Polish history by Israeli hooligans which demands strong condemnation'.
Israel's Embassy in Poland said it was 'appalled' by the banner and called on UEFA, European football's governing body, to 'respond appropriately'. The Embassy added: 'We will raise this issue in our discussions with the Israeli Foreign Ministry to prevent such situations from arising again. Polish-Israeli relations cannot and will not be destroyed by extremists.'
Rakow Czestochowa won Thursday's game 2-0 to advance to the play-off round of the Conference League league phase, where they will face FC Arda Kardzhali of Bulgaria.
The Athletic has contacted UEFA and Maccabi Haifa for comment.
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today's puzzle