La Liga side Villarreal’s announcement Monday that Israeli national team winger Manor Solomon would join the Spanish club was meant to be a boost on the field, but instead, it triggered an online storm from fans and pro-Palestinian activists accusing him of supporting “genocide” and “illegal occupation.”
Messages circulated on social media under hashtags tied to the club, calling Solomon “not welcome” and urging a boycott. The prominent fan account Villarreal Report posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he “proudly and outwardly supports Israel's genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine and its people” and “does not deserve the affection of its supporters,” attaching a Palestinian flag. Other users said by voicing support for Israel during the Gaza war, Solomon had become complicit in state propaganda.
Some Villarreal fans also directed anger at club management for signing him on loan. Similar opposition surfaced in England in recent weeks, when Solomon was linked to Sheffield United and Crystal Palace. Both fan bases saw voices rejecting him over his past remarks backing Israel during the war
In December 2023, Solomon told Ynet he struggled being abroad during the war. “These are not simple days," he said. "I think I'm experiencing it like everyone else, just that I am outside of Israel. Sometimes, it even feels a bit harder, especially in the beginning. These days are truly terrible. Every day, you just look at the news and your phone, and the television is on all the time to see what's happening. We all hope that all the hostages will return and that there won't be any more losses for us."
Villarreal has not issued an official comment, though some supporters countered the backlash, saying players should be judged by their performance, not their politics, and warning that the criticism veered into antisemitism.
The controversy mirrors the case of another Israeli player, striker Shon Weissman, who nearly completed a transfer from Spain’s Granada to Fortuna Düsseldorf in Germany. After fan protests over his social media posts backing Israel’s actions in Gaza—comments including calls to “wipe Gaza off the map”—the club rescinded the deal, even after medical tests were completed.
Fortuna’s chairman defended the decision, saying Weissman’s statements “were not consistent with our values,” while denying allegations of antisemitism.
Weissman later said he deleted the posts and expressed regret, calling his remarks a mistake made in the heat of the moment
Both incidents illuminate a growing trend: Israeli athletes in Europe facing rising political scrutiny tied to the Gaza war, including protests, canceled deals and calls for boycotts. Such pressure now complicates transfers and careers, especially as agents and clubs fear fan backlash.