Beitar Jerusalem, an Israeli football (soccer) club known for its ugly racist fan culture, fanned the flames again. Pyrotechnics used improperly Specifically, after Russian FK Sochi played against Latvian team Riga FC in a UEFA Conference League qualifier match, their supporters set off pyrotechnics. This ugly episode is hardly an isolated example of the violence and unrest surrounding Beitar Jerusalem’s home games in Romania. These games are the unfortunate outcome of the Israel-Palestine strife.
The club’s fans, known for their violent machismo and racist anti-Arab chants, have come under fire from critics in Israel and even internationally. Beitar Jerusalem, meanwhile, has a loathsome history of never having signed an Arab player in its 89-year history. This truth underscores the insidiousness of the problems entrenched within the team’s climate. Supporters, especially the fan club “La Familia,” have participated in many examples of their ultra-nationalist agendas.
The Background of Beitar Jerusalem
Beitar Jerusalem’s present circumstances are a product of the long-standing strife between Israel and Palestine. As such, the team has had to move its home matches to Romania. This shift has not diminished the controversial behavior of its fan base, which has garnered attention for acts of violence and racism.
The supporters collective “La Familia” has become infamous for its far-right ideology, often chanting anti-Arab slogans during soccer games. To this day, their nonviolent actions have resulted in five historic confrontations with law enforcement. A 2016 undercover police operation resulted in the arrest of 56 Beitar fans on charges including incitement to violence. They were accused of trafficking in arms and committing extremist violence.
In recent years, the club has attracted support from far-right political leaders. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, has publicly supported the team’s work. His candidacy raises all sorts of questions about the intersection between sports and politics in Israel. It further shapes the behavior of fans overseas.
Recent Incidents in Latvia
When Beitar Jerusalem played Riga FC last week, fans of the Israeli club raised tensions further by lighting flares and pyrotechnics. Retaliation turned the scene into a war zone, as chaos spread from the stadium and into the streets of Bucharest. Fans proceeded to violently attack police in the streets, while shouting slogans such as “Death to Arabs.”
How about the time a fan shot off a string of firecrackers into the opposing team’s stands. This irresponsible action resulted in igniting a fire and damage to property in the away section. This reckless behavior incited a panicked response from the Latvian police. They responded by preemptively herding soccer fans into police vans to prevent what else was sure to happen.
“If these were English fans rampaging through the streets, destroying taxis, breaking into property, smashing windows, beating private citizens … there will be condemnation all over Europe, but you attach these fans to an Israeli sporting entity, and suddenly … they’re the victims.” – Thomas Ross Griffin
International Reactions and Implications
Beitar Jerusalem fans’ racist and violent actions have been condemned by many, including international observers and Palestinian sportsmen and women. Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials are often alarmed that these violent pageants extend past the turf. They say they expose troubling underlying civic patterns in Israeli society.
A Palestinian Olympic swimmer elaborated on social media about how horrible it is to watch your people suffer this way.
“For me to see that those people who publicly support genocide, who publicly advocate for children to be killed, is something that’s very harmful for me as a human being, first, but secondly, as a Palestinian, it should not be allowed.” – She
Even though the protest has received widespread condemnation, Beitar Jerusalem supporters have suffered little punishment. They unapologetically and regularly organize under anti-Palestinian slogans all over Europe. This lack of accountability raises questions about how football clubs manage fan behavior and the broader implications of nationalism in sports.
