Nadine Osman
Supporters of Rangers Football Club have called on the board to withdraw from any potential deal to sign Israeli striker Dor Turgeman, warning that the move would be “deeply inappropriate” while Israel stands accused of committing genocide in Gaza.
In a strongly worded open letter dated July 11 and addressed to Rangers Chief Executive James Stewart and the club’s board of directors, a group calling themselves “Concerned Rangers Fans” urged the club to end any negotiations involving Turgeman, who currently plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The letter, circulated widely on social media, condemned the possible transfer as politically and morally indefensible, given Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, which has killed more than 57,800 Palestinians, the majority women and children.
“This is a time of transfer rumours as the squad is rebuilt,” the fans wrote. “And one rumour that has been gaining momentum is that of Israeli striker Dor Turgeman. We want to share our dismay over this prospect.”
The group made clear that their opposition was not based on the 20-year-old striker’s ability, but on the broader implications for the club’s image and values. “We are not assessing his footballing qualities – that is the manager’s job,” they stated. “But instead, what his signing would mean for the club’s culture and stability in the near future.”
The letter described Israel’s war on Gaza as “genocide” and argued that signing an Israeli national, particularly one who has represented the state internationally, could be seen as aligning with or excusing those actions.
“Signing a player who proudly wears the Israeli badge would be interpreted as condoning what the state is doing – in the same way that signing a Russian player could be seen to condone Russia’s actions,” it said.
Turgeman, who plays for Maccabi Tel Aviv, was also linked to further concerns about association with the Israeli military. The club, the letter claimed, is “known for its backing of the IDF”, while some of its fans are infamous for chants that include: “Let the IDF win,” “f**k the Arabs,” and “There are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left.”
“We don’t want our club to be associated with genocide and racism,” the group stressed.
The fans raised the issue of whether Turgeman has served in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), military service being mandatory for most Israeli citizens. “If Dor Turgeman did so, he may be guilty of war crimes,” the letter read. “It is crucial that we know if he has served in the IDF and if he has, it must be immediately disqualifying.”
According to Israeli daily Haaretz, around 70 per cent of Israeli footballers have undertaken military service. The IDF has been repeatedly accused of committing war crimes, particularly during its operations in Gaza. Israel itself is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant.
The letter also warned that signing Turgeman would inflame sectarian tensions among supporters, noting that some Rangers fans had already drafted anti-Palestinian chants online. The authors suggested this was largely in reaction to Celtic’s well-known pro-Palestinian stance.
“The one downside to our club is the minority of bigots, and this will just feed their bigotry further,” the letter added.
Beyond the ethical and social concerns, the group questioned the commercial logic of the transfer. “Even if the player proves successful, we believe the buying market for him, as an Israeli, is likely to be limited – and shrinking – as the crimes committed by the state become more obvious to the world.”
The fans warned that they would feel compelled to withdraw their financial support for the club if the transfer went ahead. “We would feel unable to continue to support the club monetarily,” they wrote. While the group did not claim to represent the majority of the fanbase, they insisted they spoke for a “sizeable minority” whose views deserved to be heard.
The letter concluded with a final plea: “We therefore ask, again, that you intervene to end any plans to sign this player, for the good of the club, and so as to not mar the start of this exciting new era for us.”
Photo: Supporters of Rangers Football Club have urged the board to withdraw from any potential deal to sign Israeli striker Dor Turgeman (pictured centre), warning that the move would be “deeply inappropriate” while Israel faces accusations of committing genocide in Gaza. (Credit: Alex Nicodim/Anadolu Agency)
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