Elham Asaad Buaras
German authorities have launched an investigation after supporters of Israeli football club Maccabi Tel Aviv were reportedly filmed performing a Nazi salute and chanting anti-Palestinian slogans during a Europa League clash in Stuttgart on December 11.
Police in Stuttgart confirmed they are probing “a provocative Nazi salute towards officers” by a young fan en route to the stadium. The act, illegal in Germany, is being treated with the utmost seriousness.
The investigation also covers what authorities describe as “hateful, offensive slogans” chanted by Maccabi supporters. Social media footage reportedly shows fans singing, “There are no schools in Gaza because there are no children left,” while other clips contain violent language directed at Palestinians.
The match was overshadowed before kick-off when six fans were temporarily detained for repeatedly setting off fireworks. All received immediate stadium bans. Maccabi’s travelling supporters have a long history of causing security concerns during European fixtures, but the use of Holocaust symbolism and taunts about Gaza marks a severe escalation.
The incident comes amid mounting calls for UEFA to suspend Israeli teams from European competition due to the war in Gaza. A police spokesman said the investigation is “ongoing” and that authorities are “prioritising the prosecution of any incidents of incitement to hatred.”
In response, UEFA’s Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) handed Maccabi a suspended one-match away fan ban and fined the club €20,000 (£17,550). The ban, which would prevent the sale of tickets to supporters for Maccabi’s next away game in a UEFA competition, is suspended for a probationary period of two years.
This follows a similar restriction on November 1, when Maccabi fans were barred from attending the Europa League tie against Aston Villa in Birmingham due to safety concerns. The move drew criticism from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who called the decision “wrong” and stressed: “We will not tolerate antisemitism on our streets.”
West Midlands Police chiefs subsequently appeared before the Home Affairs Committee of MPs on December 1, with Committee chair Karen Bradley requesting further information from the police and Birmingham City Council regarding the decision-making behind the fan ban.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – NOVEMBER 7:
Feature photo: Maccabi Tel Aviv fans held a pro-Israel demonstration at Dam Square, lighting flares and chanting anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slogans ahead of their UEFA Europa League match against Ajax in Amsterdam on November 7, 2024. Hours later, clashes broke out with pro-Palestinian citizens, during which Palestinian flags displayed in the area were removed. Several parts of Amsterdam were designated as security risk zones ahead of the match. (Credit: Mouneb Taim/AA)
