soccer

Be'er Sheva fears violent revenge by Sakhnin

After the last game between the two was canceled due to a violent incident between fans, Hapoel Be'er Sheva will face Sakhnin again and fears reprisal by the Arab team's fans.

After Assad's fall

Syrian soccer changes its logo and colors

Syrian Soccer Federation announces redesign of the team’s logo and kit, changing their color from red to green.

Maccabi Tel Aviv match in Hungary ends without incident

Maccabi Tel Aviv secures 3-1 victory in Europa League match against Besiktas, which was played in an empty stadium in Debrecen, Hungary.

Following pogrom:

Amsterdam bans Italian fans with antisemitic history

City of Amsterdam announces that no traveling fans will be permitted at Ajax Amsterdam's Europa League home game against Italian club Lazio on December 12.

High tensions:

Anti-Israel protests in Paris ahead of soccer match

Anti-Israel activists gathered to protest in the French capital ahead of the game between the Israeli and French national teams which is being held a week after mobs attacked Israeli fans in Amsterdam.

Violent riots in Paris ahead of Israeli soccer team's match

Less than 24 hours before Israel takes on France at the Parc des Princes stadium, pro-Arab activists rioted in the streets of Paris.

Berlin: Jewish soccer players attacked by Muslim spectators

Muslims curse, spit at, and attack Jewish soccer players with knives and clubs, after match in Berlin.

Message of solidarity

Macron to attend France-Israel soccer match

French President's office says his decision to attend Thursday's game aims to "send a message of fraternity and solidarity" after the Amsterdam pogrom.

Uproar after banner erasing Israel allowed by EU soccer league

European Jewish Association calls on Union of European Football Associations to discipline Paris Saint- after fans displayed a huge “Free Palestine” banner covering all of Israel in a keffiyeh.

Paris:

Activists demand cancellation of soccer match featuring Israel

Pro-Palestinian Arab activists, some holding placards with political slogans and PLO flags, protest at French soccer federation headquarters, call to cancel Nations League match between France and Israel.

'She's one of our own'

British football fans chant for hostage's release

Tottenham Hotspurs fans gathered outside the club's stadium before the match to call for the release of Emily Damari, a British citizen and fan of the club who is being held hostage by Hamas.

German soccer club pays tribute to murdered hostage

German soccer club Werder Bremen pays homage to murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin display tribute featuring his portrait alongside the words: "Shalom, Salam, Peace."

Be'er Sheva:

Violence erupts after Arab fans disrespect National Anthem

Supporters of Bnei Sakhnin turned their backs and made crude gestures during the Israeli National Anthem. Supporters of the host Hapoel Be'er Sheva crossed the pitch and attacked the opposing fans.

For the second time:

FIFA postpones ruling on PA's request to ban Israel

World soccer's governing body again delays its decision on a Palestinian Authority bid to have Israel suspended from international soccer over the war in Gaza. A decision is now expected in October.

First time in 48 years:

Israeli team competing in Olympic soccer

For the first time in 1976, Israel returned to Olympic soccer, taking on Mali in its first match at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Palestinian Authority request

FIFA postpones decision on Israel suspension

FIFA postpones decision on Palestinian Arab request to suspend Israel from international soccer, clearing the way for the Israeli men’s national team to play at the Paris Olympics.

Anti-Israel protester delays Israel-Scotland women’s soccer game

Kick-off in Scotland Women’s Euro 2025 qualifier with Israel delayed for over 30 minutes after pro-Palestinian Arab protester chains himself to a goalpost.

London:

Search underway for soccer fan wearing 'Hamas 7' shirt

Police in Britain launch hunt for a Manchester United fan who was photographed wearing a team shirt with “Hamas 7” printed on the back.

Released 9-year-old hostage comes full circle

Ohad Munder watched Hapoel Be'er Sheva's Israel State Cup semi-final victory from the stands. While in captivity, he learned that the team had sent him birthday wishes.

Over Gaza war:

PA seeks FIFA sanctions against Israel

Palestinian Authority’s soccer association planning to call on FIFA to sanction Israel due its “international law violations".

Iranian soccer star supports Israel:

'We are Iran, not the Islamic Republic'

Ali Karimi, one of the greatest Iranian soccer players of all times, spoke openly against the attack on Israel and surprisingly won extensive support.

Iran national team goalkeeper attacked by the police

Iran national team's goalkeeper, Hossein Hosseini, was attacked by police officers after a league match in the Iranian league, following his defense of a fan who ran onto the pitch without a hijab.

Europe on high alert fearing ISIS attacks at soccer matches

Following ISIS's threats to carry out terrorist attacks at soccer games, police announced high alert in Madrid, Paris and London.

Germany:

National soccer team redesigning numeral to avoid runic 'S'

Germany will redesign the numbers on its national soccer jersey after realizing they look like a Nazi symbol.

Will Israel face Egypt in the Olympics?

The Israeli team will find out tomorrow if they are to face Arabic countries as their soccer team moves towards the Paris Olympics.

Ben-Gvir:

Fine for disrespecting Hatikva 'a bad joke'

Fans from the Arab-majority city of Sakhnin refused to stop cheering for their team while the anthem was sung, leading to a fine for their team.

Sports and politics:

Israeli footballer to leave Scottish team

Liel Abada to leave Scottish Celtic, because of pressure by pro-Arabs fans, who held up banners during games defaming Israel.

Iran seeks to ban Israel from world soccer

Iran's soccer federation asks FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, to suspend Israel's due to the war in Gaza.

Soccer club hosts soldiers wounded in Gaza

The club held a ceremony before the game to hear the soldiers' stories and honor their fallen comrades.

Due to safety concerns:

Israeli team to play Belgian team in empty stadium

Maccabi Haifa to play Belgian soccer club in front of empty stadium due to safety concerns amid Israel-Hamas war.

BBC host shares, then deletes, anti-Israel post

BBC host Gary Lineker under fire after retweeting call for Israel to be banned from international soccer games. The repost has since been deleted.

Soccer player back in Israel after arrest in Turkey

Turkish govt. launched probe against Israeli player Sagiv Yehezkel after he dedicated a goal to the hostages held by Hamas. Turkish team suspended him.

Bennett:

'Shame on you, Turkish government'

Former Prime Minister rips Turkey's government following the arrest and questioning of Israeli soccer player who expressed support for hostages held in Gaza.

After supporting hostages:

Israeli soccer player questioned in Turkey

Turkish Justice Minister claims Antalyaspor's Sagiv Yehezkel, who dedicated a goal to the hostages held in Gaza, "supported the massacre carried out by Israel".

Watch:

Soccer tournament for MDA medic murdered on Oct. 7th

Israeli national soccer team seniors played in memory of Amit Mann, who was murdered while saving lives in Kibbutz Be'eri on Oct. 7.

President of Kazakhstan's magic goal

Internet sleuths noticed something unusual in a video of the Khazakstani president kicking a soccer ball into a goal.

Minister Zohar demands:

'Revoke citizenship of 'Palestine' soccer player'

Culture and Sports Minister demands that Israeli citizenship of soccer player be revoked for "identifying with terrorists".

Soccer players hold moment of silence for Hamas attack victims

Israel and Poland’s Under-21 soccer players hold unauthorized moment of silence after kick-off. UEFA refused to authorize it pre-game.

'What about the Gazans?'

Israeli soccer team's tribute for massacre victims angers UEFA

Maccabi Haifa held a moment of silence for the victims of the 10/7 massacre, UEFA was angered that the "Gazan victims" were not mentioned.

Israeli soccer coach:

'My country is bleeding but no one will break us'

Watch: Barak Bakhar, who manages Red Star Belgrade, gives impassioned speech about Israel.

Due to busts of IRGC general:

Saudi soccer team ditches match in Iran

Saudi soccer team refuses to play match in Iran due to presence of busts of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

England’s storied Chelsea soccer team launches Jewish fan group

UK antisemitism envoy: Club offers 'brilliant opportunity for Jewish fans to celebrate their culture whilst enjoying the sport they love.'

Argentinian national soccer team to play in Israel

Netanyahu meets FIFA Vice President, who tells him he had agreed on Messi and his teammates arriving in Israel for exhibition games.

Israeli soccer star signs with German powerhouse Bayern Munich

Daniel Peretz to become first Israeli to play for Germany's Bayern Munich soccer club.

History:

Makkabi Berlin becomes first Jewish team to play in German Cup

Despite a 6-0 loss, Makkabi, which was founded by Holocaust survivors in 1970, makes history by taking part in the competition.

Germany:

Soccer club founded by Holocaust survivors set to make history

Makkabi Berlin, soccer club founded by Holocaust survivors, is about to make Jewish history in Germany.

Snotty US women's soccer team, a disgrace on the world stage

How come America (and Israel) produce so many ingrates? Op-ed.

German soccer team joins Holocaust commemoration project

German football team joins San Diego Jewish school in commemorating children murdered in the Holocaust.

BDS to South African teams:

'Cancel friendlies against Maccabi Tel Aviv'

BDS movement calls on South African soccer clubs to cancel upcoming friendlies against Maccabi Tel Aviv, cites "Israeli apartheid".

Israeli soccer team to compete in 2024 Paris Olympics

Israel’s soccer team is headed to the Olympics for the first time since 1976.

Historic victory for Israel's youth soccer team

A victory in an overtime shootout has brought the Israeli team to an unprecedented semifinal spot in the European Championship league.

Italy:

New policy aims to crack down on antisemitism in soccer stadiums

Italy to bar soccer players from wearing No. 88, which has coded meaning for neo-Nazis.

The magical run ends:

Israel's Under-20 soccer team eliminated from World Cup

Israel’s Under-20 team falls to Uruguay 1-0 and fails to qualify for the finals.

Iraqi sports sites erase miracle Israeli soccer team

Sites report results of Israeli team's games at FIFA U20 World Cup without showing the flag or name of the winning team.

Israeli team upsets Brazil, goes to under-20 semifinals

An overtime goal against the favored Brazilian team saw the Israeli team advance to the semifinal round of the FIFA U20 World Cup.

Israel’s Under-20 soccer team does it again

Israel’s Under-20 soccer team defeats Uzbekistan 1-0 at World Cup taking place in Argentina, advances to quarterfinals.

Dramatic comeback:

Israel’s Under-20 soccer team defeats Japan in World Cup

Israel trailed 1-0 before tying the score in the 77th minute and scoring the winning goal in the 92d minute.

Due to fans' unruly behavior:

Beitar Jerusalem could lose championship cup

Beitar Jerusalem wins state cup for the eighth time, but could lose the trophy after its fans stormed the field following the game.

PA flag causes tension at Israel’s first U-20 World Cup game

'This is not politics, this is soccer': Police remove Colombia fans who raised Palestinian Authority flag during soccer match.

Israel looks to make history at under-20 men’s World Cup

'We came here to win the trophy,' Israeli team's midfielder says.