2025-08-15 16:51
publication
2025-08-15 16:51
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski emphasized that it is good that the Israeli embassy in Poland reacted to the “scandalous” banner of Maccabi Hajf supporters. He expressed the hope that Israeli youth was taught that in 1939 the Nazi Germans attacked Poland and began to murder its citizens of all denominations and nationalities.
The banner was written in English: “Murderers since 1939”. He was hung on Thursday by the supporters of the Israeli club Maccabi Hajf during the match against Raków Częstochowa in the conference league qualifying.
On the night of Thursday to Friday, the Israeli embassy in Poland reacted to the content of the banner on the X platform: “The hideous behavior of some Maccabi Hajf supporters during the match against Raków. For such words and deeds of any of the parties there is no place at the stadium nor anywhere else. Never!
By the way, I would like to inform you that diplomacy is not a kibolian act. The shameful banner did not expose the State of Israel, only the hugged heads. I agreed with the minister @MKierwinskithat if Hungary help us identify them, they will be banned from entering Poland. Please also weigh if … https://t.co/bpon2dn2sf
– Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) August 15, 2025
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said that it is good that the Israeli embassy in Poland reacted to – as he wrote – the “scandalous” banner of Maccabi Hajf supporters posted during the match. “I also hope that Israeli youth are taught that in 1939 Nazi Germans attacked Poland and began to murder its citizens of all denominations and nationality,” wrote the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on platform X.
Earlier on Friday, the President's Chancellery appealed for the firm reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and specific actions of Polish diplomacy on the banner of Maccabi Hajf supporters.
The match took place in Debreczyn in Hungary, and Maccabi played in it as a host. Raków, who lost at home 0: 1, won in the 2: 0 rematch and advanced to the fourth round of the conference league elimination.
Scandal: Maccabi fans with a banner: “Murderers Since 1939”. If it's about Poles, it's probably a joke! pic.twitter.com/henjnqqd4
– Jarosław Kłak (@Gigijarek) August 14, 2025
Protests of the president, ministers of sport, digitization and national defense regarding the banner of Maccabi Hajf supporters
President and ministers of sport, national defense and digitization and a spokesman for the government protested against the content of the supporting fans of Israeli Macababi Hajf during the match against Raków Częstochowa in the conference league qualifying rounds. It was written in English: “Murderers since 1939”.
“The scandalous banner posted by Maccabi Hajf supporters offends the memory of Polish citizens – victims of World War II, among which there were 3 million Jews. Stupidity, which is not explained by any words,” President Karol Nawrocki wrote on Platform X.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who demanded the case to the European Football Union (UEFA), also took the floor.
“Absolutely scandalous behavior of Israeli fans during the conference league match against Poland and Poles. UEFA reaction is necessary. There is no and there will be no consent to historical lies towards our nation,” he emphasized in the post on X.
The intervention in UEFA was announced by the president of the Polish Football Association Cezary Kulesza, who called the content of the banner “provocation” and “falsification of history”.
“We will urgently apply to UEFA to take a position and draw consistency for a scandalous banner and outrageous behavior in the stands during the Maccabi – Raki match,” announced the head of PZPN.
“There is no acceptance for the scandalous behavior of Israeli supporters towards Polish women and Poles. We expect a rapid and unambiguous reaction of UEFA. In urgent mode we will seek to draw consistency towards the Israeli club. Sport arenas are not a place to propagate lies” – wrote on platform X Minister of Sport Jakub Rutnicki.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digitization Krzysztof Gawkowski emphasized that “a lie must always be strongly and clearly stigmatized.”
“What the Israeli Maccabi Hajf supporters did, hanging out a scandalous banner, is a hypocrisy of history! You have to be responsible for stupidity and the club and fans should be, for example!” – he wrote on Platform X.
Government spokesman Adam Szłapka emphasized: “The scandalous behavior of Israeli fans towards Poland and Poles. We expect a clear response from UEFA.”
The Israeli embassy in Poland also responded to the banner.
“The hideous behavior of some Maccabi Hajf supporters during the match against Rakow. For such words and actions of any of the parties there is no place at the stadium or nowhere else. Never! These shameful incidents do not reflect the spirit of most Israeli fans,” said the embassy on platform X.
The match took place in Debreczyn in Hungary, and Maccabi played in it as a host. Raków, who lost at home 0: 1, won in the 2: 0 rematch and advanced to the fourth round of the conference league elimination.
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