In terms of sport, Union Berlin’s Europa League appearance against Maccabi Haifa was a success. But it shouldn’t have been so glorious in the spectator stands. The police have now started an investigation.
At the European Cup match in the Conference League between 1. FC Union Berlin and Maccabi Haifa, there are said to have been anti-Semitic actions by supporters of the Bundesliga soccer team. “In the mixed block we were threatened by Union fans, pelted with beer and insulted as ‘shitty Jews’, among other things,” complained the Young Forum of the German-Israeli Society on Thursday evening on Twitter. A Union fan tried to light an Israeli flag from a spectator. This was prevented by the intervention of plainclothes police.
Maccabi praises “great hospitality”
At the same time, according to the Junge Forum, other Berlin fans spoke out against the anti-Semitic behavior: “Thank you for the wave of solidarity online and to the Union fans who showed their solidarity with us in the stadium! Most of the Unioners welcomed Maccabi in a friendly manner celebrated football with them, “tweeted the platform for members of the German-Israeli Society between the ages of 14 and 35 on Friday morning. The organization nevertheless demanded consequences: “We also expect that #Antisemitism in the stadium will be dealt with consistently, so that this is still possible. For non-discriminatory football!”
1. FC Union Berlin replied to the allegations on Thursday evening, also via Twitter, and demanded that block and seat numbers be given immediately to identify the viewers concerned. On Friday, the club announced that it would give a statement on the incidents during the day. One looks for the contact to the persons concerned, it said from the association side. Uefa did not have any further information on the incidents on Friday morning. We are still waiting for the game delegate’s report. Union may face disciplinary proceedings.
Maccabi Haifa’s guest appearance, which Union Berlin won 3-0, was the first appearance by an Israeli soccer team in the Berlin Olympic Stadium built by the National Socialists. Union Berlin is not allowed to play its home games in its own stadium at the Alte Försterei in the Köpenick district due to UEFA regulations on spectator capacity.
Maccabi Haifa has not yet commented on the allegations, but praised the generally peaceful atmosphere. “Thank you for the great hospitality. It was an exciting game in front of your and also in front of our audience and also in this stadium that has its meaning. Thank you and see you again in Israel,” tweeted the Israeli champions.
During the game there was a predominantly euphoric mood among the 23,324 spectators. Around 1000 Haifa fans cheered their team on just as passionately as the Union fans their team. On match day, a high-ranking Iron delegation welcomed the guests from Israel in their own stadium. On Wednesday representatives from Maccabi Haifa visited the Holocaust memorial in Berlin and laid a wreath.
“Anti-Semitism is still widespread in football”
The anti-Semitism commissioner of the federal government, Felix Klein, was dismayed by the anti-Semitic failures of the football fans. “The anti-Semitic incidents” showed that “hostility towards Jews is still widespread in football,” Klein told the newspapers of the Funke media group, according to a statement on Friday. For the first time, an Israeli professional football team played in the Olympic Stadium built by the Nazis. He was “dismayed that German fans, especially in this historically burdened place, emitted hatred and violence instead of fairness and respect,” said Klein.
He is all the more pleased that 1. FC Union wants to investigate the incidents. But he also hoped that the crimes would be punished. “The fact that there were also Berlin fans who stood up against the anti-Semitic behavior in the stadium is encouraging,” said Klein. You should “be a role model” for everyone else.
Preliminary proceedings against Union fans initiated
In the meantime, the State Police Department of the State Criminal Police Office is investigating three cases against several supporters of the 1. FC Union. As the Berlin police announced on Friday at the request of the German Press Agency, an investigation is being initiated against several as yet unknown people on suspicion of sedition.
An as yet unidentified suspect is being investigated for setting a hand flag on fire and damaging a foreign flag. The man escaped arrest after attempting to set fire to an Israeli flag belonging to a Haifa fan under observation by a plainclothes officer.
Another man was temporarily deprived of his freedom after shouting “Sieg Heil” several times after 1. FC Union’s 3-0 win in the Conference League group game against the Israeli champions. He now has to answer for “using symbols of unconstitutional organizations,” said the police. A total of 470 police officers were involved in the game.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
