Beitar Jerusalem hooligans

[update below]

This story has been making the rounds the last couple of days—though apparently not too much in Israel—, of Beiter Jerusalem soccer fans going on the rampage in a shopping mall after a game last Monday and assaulting Arabs with impunity. No arrests have been made. Read about it here in +972—which links to the Haaretz report and has a video— and here. The Beitar F.C.’s anti-Arab racism is well-known, of the fans—the banner in the above photo reads “No Arabs”—but also of the club’s hiring policies (e.g. see here and here). If Beitar doesn’t clean up its act it should be expelled from UEFA. And if the relevant Israeli authorities don’t move against it, all Israeli clubs should be suspended from UEFA tournaments.

ADDENDUM: In the home of a family in Ramallah’s Al-Amari refugee camp three years ago (see here), I noticed that one of the men was wearing a Beitar Jerusalem t-shirt. I was informed—and I’m not making this up—that the club has numerous Palestinian fans. Go figure.

UPDATE: Abbas Suana, a former member of Israel’s national soccer team, calls Beitar Jerusalem’s fans the “most dangerous” in Israel. (March 28)

(photo: http://www.one.co.il)