German second-division soccer club Fortuna Düsseldorf issued a rare public response late Monday following backlash from some fans over the club’s reported interest in Israeli national team striker Shon Weissman.
The controversy erupted after German media outlet Bild reported that the 29-year-old forward was nearing a €500,000 transfer from Granada CF in Spain’s La Liga to Fortuna Düsseldorf, which plays in Germany’s 2. Bundesliga. The report triggered criticism from a segment of fans citing Weissman’s public support for Israel during the Gaza war as evidence of “extreme views.”
The club had remained silent until Monday night, when an official managing the team's X account (formerly Twitter) responded pointedly to a flood of tags and messages. "What is going on here? I'm getting messages nonstop after work. Judging people you don’t know based on their Wikipedia page? That’s not in line with our values,” the post read. The response drew widespread support from other fans who called for separating politics from football.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv
Weissman’s past statements in support of Israel had previously stirred reactions in Spain during his time with Valladolid and Granada. However, he has not commented publicly on the recent backlash in Germany.
Fortuna Düsseldorf finished sixth last season and narrowly missed promotion in the previous campaign, losing in the Bundesliga playoff to VfL Bochum despite a 3–0 first-leg win. The club began the current season with a heavy 5–1 loss to Arminia Bielefeld. Weissman, who has scored just nine goals since the 2022–23 season, spent part of 2024 on loan at Italian Serie A side Salernitana.
According to Bild, Weissman’s recent dip in form has lowered his market value, allowing the club to pursue a forward with proven top-flight experience despite budget limitations. The transfer has yet to be confirmed by either club.