European Jewish Congress President Dr. Moshe Kantor said that he is appalled by the lack of reaction by the authorities to recent anti-Semitic incidents in European football, after a municipal prosecutor in the Polish city of Poznan concluded that chants by soccer fans which made reference to Jews going to the Auschwitz gas chambers were not anti-Semitic.
“Unfortunately, extreme anti-Semitic chants like those in Poznan are regularly heard in many European stadiums, including in England and Holland, and the reaction of the authorities is minimal,” Kantor said. “This coupled with the inaction of the clubs involved, UEFA and the FA in England over the Quenelle, demonstrates that anti-Semitism has become the last acceptable prejudice in football.”
“We have seen quick condemnation, bans and major fines when other minorities are attacked by players and fans in Europe, but barely a whimper is heard when Jews are subject to attack.”
Two weeks ago Dr. Kantor wrote to Greg Dyke, Chairman of The Football Association and Michel Platini, President of UEFA, calling on them to take action in the wake of the recent Quenelle salute made by Nicolas Anelka. The EJC offered its assistance to discuss practical ideas and suggestions for combating anti-Semitism and racism in football, but have yet to receive a response from either association.
“It has been over two weeks since Anelka’s offensive salute and it is completely clear to all that the gesture was designed to offend Jews by an unrepentant anti-Semite and Holocaust-denier,” Kantor said. “The silence on behalf of the football authorities compounds
the original offense by Anelka and if it is not harshly dealt with, it will be seen as implicit acceptance of this anti-Semitic affront.”
“We heard that there will be an investigation into the incident but have yet to hear any details about who will be involved, when will a status be provided and even what the mandate of the investigation will be. The process up until now does not fill us with any degree of confidence.”
Furthermore, the EJC is disappointed by the reaction by the organizations created specifically to combat racism and intolerance in football, like Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football and Football Against Racism in Europe, who have not condemned the Quenelle and other recent acts of anti-Semitism in and around football stadiums.
“These organisations are usually very vocal when a minority is attacked, but have been very publicly silent when Jews have been subject to attack,” Kantor said. “I call on these organisations to be as vocal when Jews are subject to attack and work with the EJC to stamp anti-Semitism out of football once and for all.”
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3 Responses
The EJC and it’s fellow travelers are in denial of some plain truths. A large swath of humanity is destined by education and circumstance to be idiots of low mental diversity. For many of these, sporting events keep them occupied and docile, and there is great money to be made by the producers, managers, commentators of this ‘medicine for the masses” industry. The issue of the complaint tickles the latent Jew hatred in the European psyche, so there is no will or resources to challenge big money and deep tradition to fix stupid on such a massive scale. Jew hatred will always be, it re-brands itself to the need and winds of the day. It is almost comical to see the EJC appeal to the much ballyhooed European enlightenment as if it were real and widespread.
Re Comment No. 1: After reading this comment, I can see that his/her screen name is well chosen.
I know little about the European Jewish Congress, but their complaint to the European football authorities, as reported above, seem reasonable and necessary.
nfgo, if you are a sports fan, I did not mean to hurt your feelings.