Anti-Semitism at home in Europe's football stadiums
By israelinsider staff and partners November 27, 2006
The game of Deportivo La Coruna against Spanish premier league rivals Osasuna was an unpleasant experience for Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Awate. Not only did the rivals score four goals into his net on the way to a 4-1 loss, but he was a victim of anti-Semitic slurs shouted at him from local Osasuna supporters.
Every time that Awate, who is the top goalie for the Israel National Team, placed the ball for a goal kick, the local supporters of Osasuna raised Palestinian flags and called him a "mother fuc*ing Jew." Awate did not respond to the slurs and continued with the game.
Local fans are known for their support of the Palestinians, and have already called Awate similar slurs in the past when he played for Racing Santander in the past two seasons.
Last week, a mob of French supporters of the Paris Saint-Germain team attacked a Jewish supporter of Tel Aviv Hapoel after the Tel Aviv team won the match. A French policeman fired two shots into the mob in order to protect the Jewish fan. One Frenchman was killed and another injured.
German stadiums have also recently been host to anti-Semitism during matches as a referee was permanently barred this October from matches for doing nothing to stop a crowd of fans from chanting anti-Semitic slogans at Jewish players during the match.
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