By Mark Baber
January 28 – Beitar Jerusalem owner Arcadi Gaydamak has insisted that his team will sign two Chechen muslim players from Terek Grozny, despite protests by fans.
During Beitar’s recent trip to Grozny, Israeli-Russian businessman Arcadi Gaydamak and Telman Ismailov, the owner of Terek Grozny, agreed Beitar would buy one or two players from the Russian Premier League club.
Midfielder Dzhabrail Kadiyev and forward Zaur Sadayev are due to arrive in Israel in the next few days.
Beitar’s chairman, Itzik Kornfein, and coach, Eli Cohen, first learned of the new players from journalists.
During Saturday’s Premier League game against Bnei Yehuda, Beitar fans in made it clear, according to Haaretz, that they do not want the team to sign the players, hurled abuse and catcalls, chanted against Gaydamak and Kornfein, and raised a banner saying “Beitar is pure, forever.”
Beitar is expected to be brought before an Israeli FA disciplinary tribunal after a match official reported the racist chanting and signs in the stands.
Gayadamak said on Sunday, “This is something that we’ve wanted to do at Beitar for many years, and it’s been made possible now because of the team’s financial state and the need to strengthen the squad.”
Deputy prime minister Moshe Yaalon, reportedly himself a Beitar fan tweeted, “I am ashamed of those fans who make racism an integral part of their agenda and call on Beitar fans, sports fans and the rest of Israel to cast them out from their midst.”
Palestinian citizens of Israel already play for many other Israeli teams, including the national squad, but Beitar has never signed an Arab player and is notorious for the racist attitudes of some of its fans. According to R-Sport, Beitar has previously signed only one Muslim player, Nigerian defender Ibrahim Nadalla, who left soon after his arrival in 2005 after being subjected to anti-Muslim and racist chants.
A Haaretz editorial recently called for intervention in soccer against racism saying: “Only in Israeli soccer can a club block Arabs from joining its ranks, and harsh violence is treated solely as a disciplinary infraction, to be handled by the Israel Football Association’s internal court. The anarchy and lack of police enforcement have turned Israeli soccer into a source of violence, racism and hatred, and has even started to attract dubious characters, who at times manage the teams.”
With UEFA having awarded Israel the honour of hosting this year’s Under-21 tournament, in the face of strong opposition from Palestinian clubs, the spotlight continues to shine on the issue of racism in Israeli football.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734845572labto1734845572ofdlr1734845572owedi1734845572sni@o1734845572fni1734845572