Israeli fans cause indignation in Poland with ‘Murderers’ banner during a conference competition match

Israeli football fans held up a banner with the text «Murderers since 1939» during a game against a Polish team on Thursday, which caused indignation in Poland, because the president said that it insulted the memory of Poland, including Jews, in the Second World War.

The banner was prominently displayed in a row chairs by fans of the Israeli club Maccabi Haifa during a Europa Conference League match against Rakow Czestochowa, which was played in Debrecen in Debrecen for safety reasons.

«The scandalous banner shown by Maccabi Haifa -fans insults the memory of Polish citizens – victims of the Second World War, including 3 million Jews,» Polish President Karol Nawrocki, a former head of the Land Institute of National Remembrance, wrote on X. «Stupidity that cannot justify no words.»

Polish Minister of the Interior Marcin Kierwinski said: «Anti-Polonism and the outrageous distortion of Polish history by Israeli hooligans demand strong conviction».

The Israeli embassy in Warsaw also condemned the banner.

«There is no room for such words and actions, from whatever side, neither in the stadium nor anywhere else. Never!» The embassy wrote on X. «These shameful incidents do not reflect the spirit of the majority of Israeli fans.»

Rakow Czestochowa won the game 2-0 and got a 2-1 victory over aggregate.