Maccabi Tel Aviv back on top but coach future uncertain

Published on May 21, 2013

Champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have reasserted their dominance of Israeli soccer but media reports on Tuesday suggested they might have to continue their revival without coach Oscar Garcia.

David Miliband resigns from soccer team after hiring of fascist coach

Published on April 2, 2013

Britain's Jewish former foreign secretary resigned from the board of a soccer club after the team appointed a coach who gave a Nazi-style salute at a game in Rome.

Beitar Jerusalem fans walk out on Muslim player’s goal

Published on March 4, 2013

Hundreds of fans of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team walked out of the stadium in the wake of the first goal scored by a Muslim player.

Israeli soccer player on U.K. team barred from entering Dubai

Published on February 14, 2013

An Israeli soccer player for a British team is sitting out a team visit to Dubai because of tensions between the emirate and Israel.

75 Israeli soccer fans ejected over racist chanting

Published on February 11, 2013

Some 75 Israeli soccer fans were removed from a game between Beitar Jerusalem and the Israeli-Arab Bnei Sakhnin team for anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim taunting.

Beitar arson attack linked to racial incitement

Published on February 8, 2013

A suspected arson attack damaged the main club house of Israeli Premier League side Beitar Jerusalem on Friday, a day after four fans were charged in court in connection with racist incitement against the team's recruitment of Muslim players, police said.

A response to NYT article about racist Israel

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on January 31, 2013

Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans protest hiring of Muslim players

Published on January 28, 2013

Fans of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer club are protesting its decision to bring in two Muslim players. The players from the Chechen Terek Gorzny team will join Beitar Jerusalem in the coming in days.

Chelsea Football vs. 49ers Football

By Ilana Angel
Published on January 23, 2013

Italy releases guidelines for dealing with anti-Semitism at soccer matches

Published on January 10, 2013

New guidelines issued by the Italian Interior Ministry govern how police may halt or interrupt a soccer match because of racist or anti-Semitic behavior by fans or on the pitch.

Alleged anti-Semitism of Rome team’s soccer fans to be investigated

Published on January 8, 2013

European soccer authorities have opened disciplinary proceedings against the Rome soccer team Lazio for the alleged anti-Semitism of its fans.

Dr. Matthew Lefferman and Eric Weissman: Putting Sunday sports in play

By Ryan E. Smith
Published on January 3, 2013

Nowhere in the Torah does it say: “And on the seventh day, God played soccer.” Which is too bad for observant Jewish youths who would love to take advantage of the many local sports leagues that play on Saturdays.

Former Israel national soccer coach Emanuel Sheffer dies at 88

Published on December 28, 2012

Emanuel Sheffer - the coach who led Israel to their only World Cup finals in Mexico in 1970 - died on Friday aged 88, the Israel Football Association said.

Euro Under-21 teams play down security worries in Israel

Published on November 28, 2012

Teams have shrugged off security fears in Israel and are looking forward to next year's Euro Under-21 soccer championships due to be held in cities targeted by Palestinian militants last week, coaches said on Wednesday.

Soccer matches in southern Israel cancelled due to Gaza fighting

Published on November 15, 2012

The Israel Football Association have called off two Premier League matches set for Saturday due to current conflict between Israel and Gaza.

Dutch soccer director vows to punish anti-Jewish chanters

Published on October 30, 2012

The director of a soccer team from the Dutch city of Utrecht has vowed to punish fans who sang anti-Semitic chants during a recent match.

This week from Israel

By Noga Gur-Arieh
Published on October 8, 2012

Fatah youth soccer tourney honors three terrorists

Published on August 23, 2012

Fatah held a youth soccer tournament named after three Palestinian terrorists.

Paraguayan Jewish soccer boss suspended for racial slurs against Arabs

Published on August 17, 2012

Paraguay's soccer association has suspended the Jewish president of a team for hurling racial slurs at a colleague of Arab descent.

Israeli soccer team under ‘severe threat’ in Hungary, coach says

Published on August 16, 2012

The Israeli national soccer team was warned of a "severe threat" to their safety in Budapest where they played a friendly match against Hungary on Wednesday, Israel's coach said.

Football, Prayers & Faking it for Love

By Ilana Angel
Published on June 24, 2012

Jewish leader ‘shocked’ French soccer team skipped Auschwitz

Published on June 13, 2012

The president of the umbrella organization of France’s Jewish communities said it was “shocking” that France’s soccer team did not visit Auschwitz.

Netanyahu injures leg playing soccer with Jewish, Arab youth

Published on June 11, 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu injured his leg during a soccer match with Jewish and Arab youth.

German Jewish leader criticizes national soccer coach over Holocaust commemoration

Published on June 4, 2012

Germany's top Jewish leader lashed out at the country's national soccer team manager for failing to properly commemorate the Holocaust ahead of the Euro 2012 soccer championship in Poland and Ukraine.

Improving Germany beat Israel in final Euro warm-up

Published on May 31, 2012

Germany worked hard for a 2-0 win over Israel in a Euro 2012 warm-up match on Thursday with Mario Gomez and Andre Schuerrle on target in their final test before next month's tournament.

Argentine soccer club loses points due to anti-Semitic fans

Published on May 2, 2012

An Argentine soccer club lost points after a penalty was leveled due to anti-Semitic chants made by its fans.

Roman Abramovich & Roberto Di Matteo & Chelsea FC

By Ilana Angel
Published on April 26, 2012

Chelsea Football: A Sea of Sexy Men

By Ilana Angel
Published on April 17, 2012

Jerusalem soccer fans chant racist slogans, assault woman

Published on April 16, 2012

Fans of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team marched through Jerusalem chanting racist slogans, a month after attacking Arab workers at a shopping mall.

Anti-Semitic T-shirts sold at Polish soccer stadium

Published on April 12, 2012

T-shirts featuring anti-Semitic slogans were discovered being sold outside a soccer stadium in the Polish city of Lodz.

Jerusalem fans’ violence highlights dark side of soccer

Published on April 9, 2012

Sports fans aren’t the only people lately paying attention to Israeli soccer. A string of ugly incidents has caused Israelis to focus on the problems of violence and racism within the sport.

Palestinian soccer player injured in Israeli post-game brawl

Published on April 1, 2012

A Palestinian member of an Israeli soccer team was knocked out during a brawl at the end of a game.

Messi the Greatest Ever? Sorry, wrong Argentine

By Mark Paredes
Published on March 26, 2012

Iranian soccer club won’t play Serbian team with Israeli coach

Published on February 21, 2012

An Iranian soccer team canceled a game against a Serbian club because its coach is Israeli. Avram Grant, who last month was named manager of the Partizan Belgrade soccer club...

Soccer fans on the frontline of revolution

Published on February 8, 2012

Sprinting down a side street in downtown Cairo, the group of young men are outrun by a hissing tear gas canister careening through the air, slamming into the ground beside them. They quickly raise their arms to their mouths in a futile attempt to avoid inhaling the gas. But one of the group turns in the direction of his pursuers, staring at them defiantly as he breathes in the gas as a show of strength.

Faltering Maccabi Tel Aviv sack coach Iwanir

Published on December 5, 2011

Maccabi Tel Aviv sacked coach Motti Iwanir on Monday after he failed to improve the fortunes of Israel's biggest club having been in the job for almost a year.

FIFA says non-Israeli can play for Israel

Published on December 1, 2011

FIFA has given a Druze Arab from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights permission to play for Israel even though he is not a citizen of the country, the Israel FA said.

Hakoah soccer makes a comeback—in New Jersey

Published on November 29, 2011

Even in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Ron Glickman stands out with a navy hat and sky-blue jersey both adorned with Stars of David.

Israel soccer team playing in Turkey, despite tensions

Published on September 15, 2011

An Israeli soccer team arrived in Istanbul to play a Turkish team, despite tensions between the two countries.

Jerusalem soccer team purchase reportedly falls through

Published on July 29, 2011

The purchase of a Jerusalem soccer team by two American Jews reportedly fell through.

New Beitar Jerusalem owner affiliated with dovish group

Published on July 14, 2011

A Jerusalem soccer team known for its right-wing fans was bought by an American who served on a dovish pro-Israel group's board.

Thoughts on basketball and Israel

Published on May 27, 2011

Early Sunday morning on Mothers Day, as my brother and I prepared breakfast for our mom, I also prepared myself for the special day ahead. In addition to celebrating my mom, my family would also gather in our den to watch Maccabi Tel Aviv play Greece’s Panathinaikos for the Euroleague’s Basketball Championship. Proudly wearing my Maccabi t-shirt, I thought how strange it felt that on the day we are watching Maccabi compete for the European basketball championship, that night, we would attend the Israeli Consulate’s Yom Hazikaron ceremony.

Soccer is Boring but Javier Cortes & David Beckham Are Changing My Mind

By Ilana Angel
Published on May 24, 2011

Dutch soccer player rues anti-Semitic chants

Published on March 22, 2011

A Dutch soccer player apologized for chanting anti-Semitic slogans caught on camera following a victory over a team with traditional Jewish support. Lex Immers of the Dutch ADO Den Haag team apologized Monday in a statement on the team's website for the remarks made in a bar with team fans.

Jewish soccer team suspended for non-Jewish ringers

Published on February 17, 2011

A soccer team was suspended from a Jewish-only league in London after fielding non-Jewish players under false names. A referee in the Maccabi Southern Football League became suspicious when two players for the Holy Mount Zion team, who were registered under Jewish-sounding names, were called by other names by their teammates, The Telegraph reported.

Decals on my car - don’t want any!

By Julia Bendis
Published on February 10, 2011

More indictments in soccer stadium plot

Published on January 4, 2011

Two eastern Jerusalem residents employed by the British Consulate have been charged in connection with a plan to attack a Jerusalem soccer stadium. Israel indicted the men, both Palestinians, on Sunday for arms trafficking for Hamas. A gag order was lifted on the case Sunday. The charges have no connection with their jobs as maintenance workers at the consulate, which is located in the eastern Jerusalem community of Sheikh Jarrah, British media reported, citing Israeli officials.

Shalom, sports fans—it’s time for some respect!

By Roy Eitan
Published on November 15, 2007

After decades of dealing with war and terrorism, Israel appears to be waking up to a new security threat: sports hooliganism.

Briefs: Sukkah at UC Davis vandalized; Poll: Israelis want united Jerusalem

Published on October 11, 2007

News briefs.

Bentsch it like Beckham?

Published on September 8, 2007

Beckham is half-Jewish, or maybe a quarter Jewish, but what with anti-Semitism rising at the rate of 2.755 percent in North Dakota, according to scientific surveys, we can use every muscular tribesman we can get.

L.A. teams are golden at Maccabi Games

By Carin Davis
Published on August 30, 2007

More than 60 athletes from Westside JCC's Team Westside and The New JCC at Milken's Team L.A. represented the greater Los Angeles area this month during the 25th annual Maccabi Games, scoring numerous gold, silver and bronze wins in such sports as baseball, basketball, swimming, soccer and table tennis.

Briefs: Rep. Lantos calls on NATO to include Israel; Ariel Sharon’s son to the slammer

Published on June 28, 2007

News briefs.

Briefs: Sheriff wants to prosecute YULA girls after soccer brawl; Graffiti targets Jews in Beverlywood

Published on February 15, 2007

Community Briefs

Pro soccer rookie Bornstein gives small goals a big kick

By Carin Davis
Published on October 12, 2006

ChivasUSA's Jonathan Bornstein is the top contender for the 2006 Major League Soccer (MLS) Rookie of the Year award. Not bad for the Los Alamitos native who was not invited to the MLS combine and was chosen in the fourth round (of four) of 2006 MLS SuperDraft (37th pick overall).

Soccer on Sunday, Wickedly Wonderful

Published on July 27, 2006

Talia Schrager loves soccer. She loves being able to run and kick and shout with other girls. Her mother, Sandra Lepson, loves the assertiveness and self-confidence the game inspired in her daughter. So with her daughter about to age out of her team, Lepson knew she had to find a way to let her daughter continue playing.

Overcoming Germanophobia During the World Cup

By Ivor Davis
Published on July 19, 2006

I must admit that in countless trips to Europe, I had carefully avoided visiting Germany, having no desire whatsoever to see the Fatherland that had left me with such dark memories. But then came the summer of 2006, and as a football (soccer to you) devotee, I headed to Germany to cover the World Cup for a Southern California radio station.

My World Cup Runneth Over

By Roberto Loiederman
Published on June 15, 2006

Soccer's World Cup, played every four years, is being contested in Germany by 32 national teams from all parts of the world. One week of competition has gone by, three weeks to go before the championship game on July 9. The world is riveted. But not the American sports public, which has reacted with its usual collective yawn.

Travel Briefs

Published on March 16, 2006

Hot on the heels of Mardi Gras, a recovering Big Easy will soon play host to the inaugural New Orleans International Jewish Music Festival. The two-day gathering on April 1-2 will celebrate the rebuilding of Jewish New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Maccabiah Games Bring Golden Times

By Roxana Pourshalimi
Published on October 13, 2005

The hope of the organizers is that the games foster a sense of Jewish unity, awareness and pride among the athletes from around the world. In that spirit, this year's games were the first to feature delegations from China, Macedonia and Grenada.

The Goalie of Oz

By Emily Pauker
Published on July 28, 2005

Oz Iluz loved to play goalie on his soccer team, but wasn't too keen on math or the math exam that awaited him. So the 12-year-old didn't really want to get on the small No. 14 bus in Jerusalem on that February morning in 2004.