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‘You Are One of Us’: Israeli Soccer Association, President Herzog Support Israeli Arab Player After Racist Taunts
by Shiryn Ghermezian
Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium. Photo: Lyulyev Danny via Wikimedia Commons
Israeli Arab soccer player Mohammed Abu Fani from Israel’s national soccer team is receiving support from Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, his teammates as well as Israel’s Football Association, after he was subjected to racist chants during his team’s international match on Monday night.
The midfielder, 25 — who plays in Hungary’s top soccer league Ferencváros as well as the Israeli national team — was booed and called a “terrorist” by fans inside Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium as the Israeli squad bested Andorra 2-1 in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match. Abu Fani told Yediot Ahronoth that the taunts were hurled at him during the game and while he wanted to get off the field and escape the torment, he stayed focused on the match, not wanting to jeopardize it for the team.
President Herzog said in a Twitter post on Tuesday that he spoke to Abu Faneh on the phone and expressed his support for the athlete after he faced “disgraceful racist chants” during the national team’s game. “I told him that he was the pride of the state, and I strongly condemned the racist chants he was subjected to,” Herzog added. “Muhammad is an Israeli citizen and proudly represents the country and should not hear these ugly voices.”
Also on Tuesday, Israel’s Football Association uploaded a photo on Instagram that showed Abu Fani’s number 10 jersey alongside a banner that said “no to racism.” The association wrote in the caption, “Abu – you are one of us, equal to all of us, our brother. Together, with thousands of fans and the national team, we continue to the 2024 Euros.”
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Abu Fani told Yediot Ahronoth that the hurtful taunts took a toll on him Monday night.
“I had a difficult night, I cried quite a bit, many thoughts went through my mind,” he explained, as cited by Ynet. “It doesn’t make sense that the crowd that is supposed to cheer you on curses you. I came to play for the national team and I received humiliating and offensive treatment. I am a person before I am a player. I have a heart, emotions, a family. Enough already … Shame on them.”
Abu Fani said he believes racist fans such as the ones from Monday night should face time in prison for their behavior. He also revealed he is considering his future with the team following the incident. He said: “I will make my considerations alone, I leave the decision to myself whether to continue with the national team. I will decide with my family.”
Israel Football Association Chairman Moshe Zuares told Ynet that the racist remarks fans made on Monday night were “shameful” and not acceptable “in any way.”
“I went to Abu Fani, hugged him and encouraged him,” he told the news outlet. “The whole team hugged him and encouraged him. It was only a handful [in the crowd] who booed him, and there were some who applauded him when that booing started. But we won’t accept it.”
Fellow national team player Manor Solomon also denounced the racists chants against Abu Fani. He said, “we heard the whistles [and booing] against Abu Fani. It’s hard for me to hear jeers against a player just because he’s Arab. It’s shameful and cannot happen in the national team,” Haaretz reported.
Israel’s national soccer team will next compete against PAUK Thessaloniki in the second qualifying round for the UEFA Euro 2024.
Striker Mu’nas Dabbur left Israel’s national team last year after repeatedly receiving abuse from fans for criticizing Israeli policies at the Temple Mount.
Teddy Stadium is home to Beitar Jerusalem, which is known for its far-right supporters called La Familia. Last month, Beitar fans stormed the pitch following the team’s win of the State Cup and forced the cancellation of the medal ceremony that was set to take place on the field. As a result, Beitar was fined and banned from European competitions for one year.
