Clampdown on racism at Israeli football club

Nine supporters of Beitar Jerusalem football club have been arrested and dozens banned from games as police attempt to clamp down on supporters protesting against the club’s signing of two Muslim players.

Most Beitar fans identify with the right wing, but a hardcore are overtly racist and regularly chant anti-Arab and anti-Muslim songs at games.

Yesterday three fans were arrested during loud protests at the team’s training session following the signing earlier this week of two Muslim players from Chechnya.

At a home game last week fans unfurled a large banner reading “Beitar, pure forever”, prompting outrage and comparisons with the racial purity policies implemented by Nazi Germany.

Beitar was fined €10,000 and the east stand at Jerusalem’s Teddy stadium, where the hardcore fans congregate, was ordered closed for the next five home games.

There was concern that the episode could threaten Israel’s scheduled hosting of the European Under- 21 football finals in June.

Officials at the club blamed a “vocal minority” and claimed most supporters had no problem with Beitar signing Muslims.

However, many supporters warned that this week’s furore would pale into insignificance if the club ever tried to sign an Israeli Arab.

Discrimination

Beitar, one of the four big teams in Israel, remains the only one of Israel’s 30 professional teams never to have had a single Arab player.

President Shimon Peres wrote to the Israel football association condemning the racist behaviour, and former prime minister Ehud Olmert, one of Beitar’s biggest fans, declared that he was boycotting future games.

Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat said Beitar would no longer put up with racism or violence: “I am proud of the club and its ability to advance co-existence. We as Jews cannot discriminate against players based on their religion.”