Latest news with #MaccabiHaifa
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
‘Scandalous' banner displayed by Maccabi Haifi soccer fans receives widespread condemnation from Polish officials
Polish president Karol Nawrocki has denounced a 'scandalous' banner displayed by a group of Israeli soccer fans at a UEFA Conference League qualifying match on Thursday. Supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Haifa held a large banner reading 'murderers since 1939' close to the front of the stands and across a row of seats during the match against Raków Częstochowa in Debrecen, Hungary – an apparent reference to the Holocaust and the crimes committed by Nazi Germany. On Friday, European soccer governing body UEFA announced that disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against Maccabi Haifa for 'transmitting a message not fit for (a) sports event.' CNN Sports has contacted Maccabi Haifa for comment. Germany invaded Poland in 1939, with more than three million Polish Jews and 1.9 million non-Jewish citizens killed during the Holocaust. Poland was the center of Ashkenazi Jewry before the Holocaust, but by the end of World War II, just 10% of the community remained. Considerable research by historians has found that some Polish individuals and groups did collaborate with the Nazi occupiers. 'Individual Poles often helped in the identification, denunciation, and hunting down of Jews in hiding, often profiting from the associated blackmail, and actively participated in the plunder of Jewish property,' according to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum. However, recent Polish governments have sought to challenge that narrative of collaboration, and in 2018 passed a law making it illegal to accuse Poland of complicity in crimes committed by Nazi Germany, including the Holocaust. Raków Częstochowa and Maccabi Haifa contest the first leg of their UEFA Conference League qualification tie in Poland. Michal Dubiel/IPA Sport/Shutterstock 'The scandalous banner displayed by fans of Maccabi Haifa insults the memory of Polish citizens – victims of World War Two, including 3 million Jews,' Nawrocki said in a post on X. 'Stupidity that no words can justify.' Meanwhile, Poland's interior minister Marcin Kierwiński said on X that 'anti-Polonism and the outrageous distortion of Polish history by Israeli hooligans require strong condemnation. There is no, and will never be, agreement to such shameful practices.' The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw also criticized the banner, photos of which have been widely shared on social media, describing it as 'disgusting behavior.' 'There is no place for such words and actions, from any side, neither at the stadium nor anywhere else. Never!' it said on X. 'These shameful incidents do not reflect the spirit of the majority of Israeli fans.' CNN Sports has contacted the Nagyerdei Stadion in Hungary, where the match was held, regarding any intervention, including taking down the banner or ejecting the fans responsible. Cezary Kulesza, the president of the Polish Football Association, previously called on UEFA to take disciplinary action following the 'scandalous banner and outrageous behavior,' adding in a post on X: 'There's no consensus for provocations and falsifying history.' Raków Częstochowa won the match 2-0 to reach the playoff round of qualification for this year's Conference League after overcoming a 1-0 deficit from the first leg. The club will now face Bulgarian side Arda Kardzhali on August 21.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel football fans' ‘murderers' banner causes outrage in Poland at Europa Conference game
Israeli football fans sparked outrage in Poland after displaying a banner reading "Murderers since 1939" during a Europa Conference League match against a Polish team on Thursday. The provocative message, prominently unfurled by supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Haifa during their fixture against Rakow Czestochowa in Debrecen, Hungary, drew immediate condemnation from Polish officials. The game was played in Hungary for security reasons. Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a former head of the country's Institute of National Remembrance, took to X to express his dismay. "The scandalous banner displayed by Maccabi Haifa fans insults the memory of Polish citizens - victims of World War Two, including 3 million Jews," he wrote, adding: "Stupidity that no words can justify." Marcin Kierwinski, Poland's Interior Minister, echoed the sentiment, stating: "Anti-Polonism and the scandalous distortion of Polish history by Israeli hooligans demand strong condemnation." The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw also condemned the banner, asserting: "There is no place for such words and actions, from any side, neither at the stadium nor anywhere else. Never! These shameful incidents do not reflect the spirit of the majority of Israeli fans." The year 1939 marks the beginning of the Second World War, during which Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany. The country's 3.2 million Jewish population, the largest in Europe at the war's outset, was almost entirely annihilated, many in Nazi German death camps. A further 3 million non-Jewish Polish citizens also perished during the occupation. Historical disputes surrounding the Second World War and the Holocaust have frequently strained relations between Poland and Israel. While studies have indicated complicity by some Poles in the killing of Jews by Nazi Germany, many Poles vehemently reject such findings, viewing them as an attempt to dishonour a nation that suffered immensely. The banner may have been a response to one displayed by fans of the Polish club during last week's first leg, which read: "Israel is killing and the world is silent," referencing the ongoing conflict in Gaza. That conflict began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's subsequent offensive against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Europe's football governing body, UEFA, has initiated disciplinary proceedings against both clubs for "transmitting a message not fit for a sports event." Maccabi Haifa have also been charged with improper conduct. Rakow Czestochowa won the second leg 2-0, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory to qualify for the playoffs later this month.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Why a banner from Israeli football supporters sparked anger
Israeli football fans sparked outrage in Poland by displaying a banner reading "Murderers since 1939" during a Europa Conference League match against a Polish team in Hungary. The provocative message, unfurled by supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Haifa, drew immediate condemnation from Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski. The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw also condemned the banner, stating there is no place for such words or actions, and that they do not reflect the spirit of most Israeli fans. The year 1939 marks the beginning of the Second World War and the Nazi occupation of Poland, during which millions of Polish citizens, including three million Jews, perished. UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against both Maccabi Haifa and Rakow Czestochowa for transmitting a message not fit for a sports event, with the banner possibly a response to a previous Polish banner referencing the Gaza conflict.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Israel football fans' ‘murderers' banner causes outrage in Poland at Europa Conference game
Israeli football fans sparked outrage in Poland after displaying a banner reading "Murderers since 1939" during a Europa Conference League match against a Polish team on Thursday. The provocative message, prominently unfurled by supporters of Israeli club Maccabi Haifa during their fixture against Rakow Czestochowa in Debrecen, Hungary, drew immediate condemnation from Polish officials. The game was played in Hungary for security reasons. Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a former head of the country's Institute of National Remembrance, took to X to express his dismay. "The scandalous banner displayed by Maccabi Haifa fans insults the memory of Polish citizens - victims of World War Two, including 3 million Jews," he wrote, adding: "Stupidity that no words can justify." Marcin Kierwinski, Poland's Interior Minister, echoed the sentiment, stating: "Anti-Polonism and the scandalous distortion of Polish history by Israeli hooligans demand strong condemnation." The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw also condemned the banner, asserting: "There is no place for such words and actions, from any side, neither at the stadium nor anywhere else. Never! These shameful incidents do not reflect the spirit of the majority of Israeli fans." The year 1939 marks the beginning of the Second World War, during which Poland was occupied by Nazi Germany. The country's 3.2 million Jewish population, the largest in Europe at the war's outset, was almost entirely annihilated, many in Nazi German death camps. A further 3 million non-Jewish Polish citizens also perished during the occupation. Historical disputes surrounding the Second World War and the Holocaust have frequently strained relations between Poland and Israel. While studies have indicated complicity by some Poles in the killing of Jews by Nazi Germany, many Poles vehemently reject such findings, viewing them as an attempt to dishonour a nation that suffered immensely. The banner may have been a response to one displayed by fans of the Polish club during last week's first leg, which read: "Israel is killing and the world is silent," referencing the ongoing conflict in Gaza. That conflict began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's subsequent offensive against Hamas in Gaza has since killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Europe's football governing body, UEFA, has initiated disciplinary proceedings against both clubs for "transmitting a message not fit for a sports event." Maccabi Haifa have also been charged with improper conduct. Rakow Czestochowa won the second leg 2-0, securing a 2-1 aggregate victory to qualify for the playoffs later this month.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
UEFA charges Israeli and Polish clubs over political fan banners that raised diplomatic tension
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA opened a disciplinary case Friday after an Israeli soccer club's fans displayed a banner targeting Poland that was criticized by the Polish president and diplomats from Israel. Fallout from the Maccabi Haifa vs. Rakow Czestochowa game Thursday in UEFA's Conference League adds to current scrutiny around non-sporting issues being aired at international soccer. The slogan 'Murderers since 1939' in English was shown by Maccabi Haifa fans at a qualifying game in UEFA's Conference League against Polish team Rakow. It was quickly condemned by the president of Poland and Israel's embassy in the country. Polish President Karol Nawrocki posted on X the banner was 'scandalous' and an insult to Polish victims of World War Two including three million Jews. Maccabi Haifa and Rakow played the game in neutral Hungary — instead of Israel for security reasons — one week after the first leg in Poland. There, Rakow fans showed a banner in Polish saying Israel was murdering people and the world was silent. UEFA said Friday both clubs have been charged with 'transmitting a message not fit for a sports event' in a case that will be judged by its disciplinary panel. No timetable was given for imposing sanctions which could be fines and closing part of a stadium at a future game. Rakow won 2-0 Thursday and eliminated Maccabi Haifa 2-1 on aggregate score. The Polish government's foreign ministry said Friday it had spoken with Israel's ambassador to the country, Yaakov Finkelstein. 'He expressed his utmost outrage at the scandalous content of a banner displayed by the Israeli fans and thanked for its firm condemnation by the embassy,' the Polish ministry said in a statement. Poland's ambassador in Israel also was set to discuss the incident with Israel's government, the ministry said, adding: 'Polish-Israeli relations must not, and will not, be undermined by extremists.' UEFA does not allow overt political messaging by fans or clubs in stadiums at European competition games it organizes but was itself criticized this week. On Wednesday, UEFA displayed the message 'Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians' on the field before its showpiece Super Cup game between the Champion League title holder Paris Saint-Germain and Europa League winner Tottenham, played at Udine, Italy. UEFA said it was part of a campaign with its charitable foundation that has projects helping children affected by conflicts also in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Ukraine. When the PSG and Tottenham players were presented with their medals, the post-game ceremony involved two Palestinian children who are refugees in Italy from Gaza. ___
