7 Arabs injured in clash with Jewish soccer fans

Game between teen players from Qalansuwa, Or Akiva ends in violence, police investigating

Raanan Ben-Zur|Published: 04.02.11 , 21:27

Seven soccer players aged 15-16 were lightly injured Saturday when a fight broke out at the end of a game played between the Qalansuwa and Or Akiva teams.

The Arab and Jewish teams met in Or Akiva for a game that ended in a 0-0 tie. According to witnesses, after the game the Or Akiva fans attacked the Arab players and their attending parents.

Several of the Qalansuwa teammates ended up in the emergency room with various wounds.

Police were alerted but arrived as the fight ended. Superintendant Rami Raz, deputy commander of Hadera Police, said officers had collected testimonies. "As of now, (the victims) cannot supply us with details on the identities of their attackers," he said, adding that police would investigate.

Rayid Taya, the manager of Qalansuwa's team, recounted the events before Ynet. "After our game against the Or Akiva team the players and a large number of fans attacked us and beat us with sticks and stones. When we felt we were in danger we ran towards the bus but they followed us and threw stones at the bus,hurting us and breaking the windows" he said.

"Unfortunately, no one from the managers of the Or Akiva team intervened," he lamented.

Ahmed Natur, a player from the Qalansuwa team, told Ynet some of the players had hit them without even knowing why.

"In just a short time they were joined by at least 100 other people. I was personally injured in both hands, two other players were injured in the head and the rest were injured in other body parts," he said, adding that the team had filed a complaint with police.

Hassan Shaalan contributed to this report