Opinion
Diseased soccer family
Yehuda Shohat
Published: 03.11.12, 14:49
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40 Talkbacks for this article
1. Unfortunately
Line Singer ,   Svendborg, Denmark   (11.03.12)
it's the same all over the world :(
2. Please do the right thing.
Moshe ,   Usa   (11.03.12)
3. it keeps the pressure valve open so there is NOT A CIVIL WAR
DAV ZEE ,   AMERICA THE BEAUTIUL   (11.03.12)
releasing the stored up hate and stored up anger is needed....within the crazy arab world, soccer is the only way to outlet the HUGE VOLUME OF HATE the muslim extremists pile on to their sheeple against everyone else...Jews christians, westerners, white people etc. Israelis too need an outlet for all the hate mongering the arabs have heaped on Israel as well... better to cheer and boo and yell at soccer teams, than throw stones and shoot missiles. But then there are the rowdies, who need to be culled, and taken out of the picture.
4. Maybe Yehuda Shohat is correct...
Alexander ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (11.03.12)
...but are European, Turkish, Iranian, Arab or other soccer teams any different? I was born in Europe and I have no personal interest in soccer. But I do know that many European soccer teams - national teams and local clubs, display a similar behavior: racism, anti-Semitism, Nazism, Fascism, alcohol abuse, drugs, violence and the use of derogatory words against people that are supposed to be "enemies", "weak" or "inferior". The biggest difference between Israel and Europe as far as soccer teams are concerned, is probably twofold: 1) Europeans tend to play soccer better than Israelis and 2) Europeans tend to take soccer much more seriously which very often is used as a pretext to create violence and riots on the streets - simply because of a ridiculous soccer game. Such things are relatively unusual in Israel. Europeans may have better soccer teams, but we have a better national defense, a stronger economy and more skillful, talented, inventive and productive scientists than the Europeans. At the end of the day that is what truly matters.
5. We learn absolutely nothing
Michael ,   Haifa   (11.03.12)
We have been History's greatest victims of racism. The wrong lesson to be learned from this is that it gives us the right to be racist not only in football stadiums
6. Israel is a very sick society
Sagi   (11.03.12)
Soccer fans are only a symptom of the disease. Unfortunately the vulgarity which is prevalent and the total disrespect that people have for each other and for the law are so well entrenched that only radical surgery will remove them and alter the situation. This will not happen.
7. Beitar fans are just ticked off that Toto left them...
Noodles ,   Coney Island   (11.03.12)
for HaPoel, as am I, but I would never resort to racial epithets.
8. Soccer, no longer a sport
Raphael ,   Netanya   (11.03.12)
Merely a show for redneck bigots. It seems however very important to own such a vector to Qataris, in their quest to infiltrate western society and control opinion leaders. They purchased the most murderous neo nazi football club in Europe, Paris Saint Germain in this purpose.
9. amazing!
ed   (11.03.12)
and these comments are not about haredim.
10. article in your paper.
israel   (11.03.12)
how sad that such an article has to be written. its true,to the point.we had bad bevhavour in islands,in greece.also in naples airport.
11. Disgusting behavior
mea   (11.03.12)
12. Come to Hungary
Istvan ,   BUDAPEST HUNGARY   (11.03.12)
and listen what is chanting on an MTK ( jewish club ) footbal match.
13. Israelis are crude people in general
DG ,   USA   (11.03.12)
Unlike most of Western World, the Israelis in general, are pretty crude and rude people. If they want to be liked by most of the world they need to change their crude culture and manners or the hate will keep coming. Very shameful how they treat Africans. Beyond disgusting.
14. # 13 Agree
Sagi   (11.03.12)
It is so sad.
15. Tamuz is former Beitar player and this is a case not racism
Marcus   (11.03.12)
16. #4
Marcus   (11.03.12)
Alexander,first of all don't use word "soccer" when you talked about football,you are not in US. " 1) Europeans tend to play soccer better than Israelis " Lol.in football world there is no such thing like "europeans".For example,how can you compare English Premier Legue (best in the world) and sweden championship?For compare level of football we have UEFA ranking.Israel now 17 from 53.
17. Ultimate father-son experience!?
Moshino ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (11.03.12)
Seriously!? Why!?
18. You don't need to go to soccer games
YoredX   (11.03.12)
to experience the gratuitous hate, just try to queue at a bakery.
19. Nonsense. Stop running Israel down.
Andi ,   Israel   (11.03.12)
For sure there are racists and vulgar people in Israel, but that's the same every where and Israel is no worse. And its true, as the writer states, vulgar chanting occurs every where too. Football attracts base types, and they act even more basely when in a crowd. Just look at the English press recently, and the players themselves are being tried for racism, never mind the fans. And does that reflect the whole of England- racist and vulgar.
20. IT HAPPENS IN EVERY COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
jew in the diaspora   (11.03.12)
i live in europe and in every football match they do things like that.. it is not israel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ps: YALLA BEITAAAAAAAAAR
21. Israel is not unique
Avi ,   London   (11.03.12)
Although this doesn't excuse the racist attitudes of some Israelis, you must understand that football fans all over the world act like this. Just look at what is happening in the Premier League in England today!
22. Sagi and #13
Eli s ,   Detroit   (11.03.12)
What Israel is doing to the Africans is so bad? What is Israel doing? detaining them thus preserving the economic viability of the county In addition to perserving the culture. These are illegal economic migrants. They are not politic refugees, Sudan is a large country and there are many areas that are peaceful. They should go there but they don't bc they are economic refugees. USA departs Mexicans back, however Israel cannot due to lack of treaties, so what do you expect, that Israel allow them become full fledge citizens because of it? Walking the streets of tel aviv one can see tens of thousands of them and there are many organizations designed to help them. Israel is a morally just society. Keep your energy fighting for the iranians who are suppressed, the syrians who are being murdered by the regime, and the Christians who are being massacred across Africa and across Muslim lands
23. No. 13
DanLondon ,   London   (11.04.12)
Bit rich having an American guy generalising an entire country as having a lack of culture? Go down to your local diner and watch what your average (obese) countryman orders for breakfast, then talk to me about culture
24. He was a betar player , and transfered
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (11.04.12)
"fans" don't like players who LEFT , by transfer , their club . They "act" in this way in the whole world , not an excuse . It's NOT typical to Israeli "fans"
25. Bwahaha! Yeah, right: MOST Soccer Fans have a loose Screw!
My Planet Israel ,   Jerusalem   (11.04.12)
Speaking of Bias! Wow!!!! You'd think this noodnick never went to a soccer game at all. I was intelligent enough to deplore soccer from a young age due to the soccer parents horrible behavior in nice towns in the US...when soccer wasn't even popular yet there! Aside the low level of intelligence of soccer fans in general (I mean, who the hell would sit for hours watching grown men run around kicking a ball back and forth! LOL!) soccer fans GLOBALLY have always flagrantly displayed their thuggish violence, racism, hatred and cruelty. Ooohhh...I forgot, the great strategy and finesse! LOL! Soccer: such a sophisticated sport! LOL! NOT. I agree with the poster on one thing: AVOID GOING TO SOCCER MATCHES: IT WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER HUMAN BEING IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE! There's a VERY good reason why soccer is the most popular sport among 3rd world or demented nations. Speaks volumes. Yeah...lets kick a ball around a giant field. Brilliant.
26. # 22
Mike ,   Tel Aviv   (11.04.12)
I suggest you learn to write properly in English before submitting talkbacks then we might be able to understand what you are ranting on about.
27. Racism in football
Israeli Grandma ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (11.04.12)
What is it about football that attracts these people, you rarely hear about this sort of behaviour amongst Cricket or Rugby crowds
28. There is Mario
aliza ,   Israel   (11.04.12)
An black African born and raised in Italy in a white Italian family and culturally he is Italian. At every match he plays he gets racist chants from Italian football fans. The author labels ALL Israelis racist and vulgar therefore ALL Italians must be racist and vulgar.
29. How sad!
Shlomo ,   USA   (11.04.12)
It's the same racist attitude that makes Israelis hate Obama, because Israeli Jews do not trust blacks. At least American Jews have always been at the forefront of social justice and equal rights. That is why we marched with Martin Luther King against racism and why, by a strong majority, we support the Democratic party; the party of inclusion, not exclusion. You would be hard pressed to find any significant diversity in the Republican Party.
30. Pot and kettle
PK ,   Northern Israel   (11.04.12)
To all those trying to defend the actions of such bigots, I'm almost certain that you would be among the first to be up in arms were Israeli players to experience abuse while playing abroad. On a far-eastern pre-season tour with Chelsea Yossi Benayoun was bombarded with anti-semitic chants. Jewish players in Europe have also been on the receiving end of such bigotry. My point is this - how can one dismiss the blatent racism of Israeli fans towards black or arab players as simply 'blowing off steam,' while on the other hand decry anti-semitic or anti-Israel abuse as the lowest kind of hate-crime? If you think there's a difference then I'd be interested to hear your justification.
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