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 As the Palestine Football Association (PFA) pushes ahead with a vote
at FIFA this Friday calling for Israel to be suspended from world
soccer's governing body, the behavior of some Beitar Jerusalem fans
is at the heart of the PFA complaint.
"Racism in Israeli football has become part of the culture," said
Jibril Rajoub, chairman of the PFA, arguing the case for Israel's
suspension from international team and club competitions.
Those on the other side of the argument note that Arabs, who make up
20 percent of Israel's population, have played for every team in
Israel's professional soccer league with the exception of Beitar
Jerusalem, and to high acclaim for the national squad.
But it is Beitar, and La Familia, that have become synonymous with
Palestinian accusations of racism.
While not dismissing the problem, Israel's soccer association points
out that racism is a scourge in soccer in many other countries, from
the top flight in England, Spain and Italy to smaller clubs in
Russia and Brazil.
But when it comes to Israel and the Palestinians, the debate takes
on a political hue.
"You see antisemitic behavior around the world at football matches,"
said Rotem Kamer, the chief executive of the Israel Football
Association (IFA), calling it unfair to single out Israel.
"In the same way other football associations are fighting these
phenomena, we are doing it as well."
Since its founding in 1936, Beitar has never fielded an Arab player.
Beitar coach Guy Levy was criticized in Israeli media when he
declared he wouldn't hire an Arab player because "it wasn't the
time". The fans wouldn't accept it and it would destabilize the
team's momentum, he said.
Himself a former coach of an Arab team, Bnei Sakhnin, Levy tried to
explain that he was just being honest. In doing so, he appeared to
expose the depth of the problem at Beitar, a six-time Israeli league
champion.
Beitar's management has denounced La Familia's behavior and
distanced itself from the group. But there are still hundreds of La
Familia members present at every game, and the 'anti-Arab' banners
slip through.
Police have made some arrests for criminal activity, but efforts to
stop racist chanting have largely failed. Searches are conducted at
turnstiles before games, but as is often the case in Europe, some
undesirables still get through.
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The IFA deducted two points from Beitar this year because of fans'
racist abuse of an Arab player from an opposing team. IFA head Kamer
said this showed the association was getting tough.
But on appeal, one point was reinstated, a decision that on Monday
helped Beitar capture a place in European club competitions next
season.
That is the sort of action that rankles with the PFA, which has
specifically cited Beitar in its complaint to FIFA.
Some Beitar Jerusalem supporters are so weary of La Familia's
behavior that they have quit the club and formed a new low-ranking
team, Beitar Nordia, welcoming Arab players.
Friday's vote may be close, depending on the rules applied. The
Palestinians think their proposal to suspend Israel requires a
simple majority. If that is so, the vote could go their way.
However, FIFA rules say any suspension vote needs a 75 percent
majority. If that holds, it is likely the Palestinian proposal will
be defeated.
The PFA's bid to have Israel suspended from FIFA also cites Israeli
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian players, hold ups in the
delivery of equipment, and the fact five Israeli league teams are
based in settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Israel's soccer association says it is doing what it can to resolve
these problems, but that it is government that is responsible for
movement and security issues.
(Editing by Ralph Boulton and Janet McBride)
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