National struggle on the soccer pitch

Law enforcement and the courts must convey the clear message that sports stadia and pitches are not outside the law. Such a message will be conveyed only if significant indictments are filed and harsher penalties imposed as a rule.

Two weeks after banners were raised in Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium reading “Beitar pure forever” and “70 years of principles” − following the decision to sign two Muslim players from Chechnya − the team’s offices in the Bayit Vegan neighborhood were set ablaze Friday. The suspected arson was part of the increasing violence and racism that some fans have directed against the heads of the club and its players in recent days.

Beitar Jerusalem to host Israeli Arab team amid tension over racist fans.

During practice, threats and curses were hurled at the Chechen players and, afterward, at chairman Yitzhak Kornfein and head coach Eli Cohen. Cohen had to be shadowed by bodyguards on the pitch. After the arson attack he said, “I really am afraid for my life.”

The fact that, for 70 years, Beitar Jerusalem has refused to play an Arab player is a black stain on the club, Israeli soccer and, especially, the state, which has allowed outright violent racism to exist within an official framework. But the decision to sign two Chechen players is, in fact, a great opportunity to eradicate this ugly situation.