The Israel Information and Documentation Center (CIDI) has a open letter sent to the management of Feyenoord with the call to take action against anti-Semitism among the fans of the club.
Earlier this week, a mural appeared in Rotterdam with an image of football player Steven Berghuis. The former Feyenoord captain recently made a transfer to arch-rival Ajax, to the dismay of some Feyenoord supporters.
The mural was full of anti-Semitic expressions, “including a big nose and a Star of David,” writes the CIDI. Furthermore, the football player was depicted in concentration camp clothing. Next to the painting was the text: “Jews always run away.” The Jewish interest group describes the mural as “a new low in football country”.
The Rotterdam football club has distanced itself from the graffiti drawing of the football player in strong terms. Against The Telegraph The management further says that if the drawing is made by supporters with a season ticket, a stadium ban will hang over their heads.
CIDI applauds a stadium ban. “That serves as an unequivocal signal that this disgusting anti-Semitism will not be tolerated,” the open letter reads. “A visit to the Anne Frank House or a trip to Auschwitz, and a matching awarenesscampaign from the club would be appropriate to realize and understand the seriousness of the problems.”
CIDI wants to apologize to ‘anyone who has been hurt’
The CIDI calls the distance from the football club a first step, but does not think that is enough. “Given the accumulation of incidents, and the seriousness of this painting, we would like the management of Feyenoord to apologize to anyone who has been hurt by this image.”
That is going too far for Feyenoord. “This is because we also have no idea who is doing this and therefore not to what extent they really have a relationship with the club,” a spokesperson told De Telegraaf .
The interest group says it will report tomorrow against those who made the mural.
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