"Murderers Over Eight Decades" - Banner Evokes Emotions of Warmth
UEFA Disciplines Clubs Over Controversial Banners in Maccabi Haifa vs Raków Częstochowa Match
In a move to address hate speech and political displays in sports events, UEFA has taken disciplinary action against both Maccabi Haifa and Raków Częstochowa following the controversial banners displayed by fans during their Conference League qualifier.
The Polish club Raków Częstochowa was fined approximately $11,600 by UEFA for displaying a far-right political banner during the match [2]. The banner, which read, "Israel kills, and the world is silent," was shown during the return leg of the competition [1]. This banner is seen as insulting the memory of Polish citizens who died in World War II, including three million Jews.
The Israeli football fans of Maccabi Haifa also caused outrage in Poland with a banner that read, "Murderers since 1939." This incident occurred during the first leg of the competition, held in Debrecen, Hungary, due to the Middle East conflict [5]. The Israeli embassy in Warsaw condemned the "disgusting behavior of some fans" at the European Cup match.
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed support for UEFA taking appropriate action against such incidents, with President Karol Nawrocki and several ministers and the government spokesman also condemning the banner [4]. The Israeli embassy stressed that there is no place for such words and actions, either in the stadium or elsewhere, and that the shameful incidents do not reflect the attitude of the majority of Israeli fans [6].
UEFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings against both clubs [3]. However, there is no specific mention of additional fines or penalties for Maccabi Haifa in the available information. It is unclear why Rapid coach Stöger forced a penalty shootout, or if there will be any consequences for the fans involved.
Despite the controversy, Raków won the return leg 2:0 and advanced to the next round after a 0:1 loss in the first leg. The Israeli embassy wrote a statement on the matter, but no further details have been disclosed.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment in sports, and UEFA's commitment to addressing hate speech and political displays.
Football champions, Maccabi Haifa and Raków Częstochowa, will likely face additional penalties after displays of controversial banners in their UEFA Conference League match. The Israeli fans of Maccabi Haifa's banner, reading "Murderers since 1939," caused outrage, while Raków Częstochowa's banner, displaying a far-right political statement, was fined by UEFA.
