Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has thanked Israel’s embassy in Warsaw for condemning what he called a “scandalous” banner displayed by Maccabi Haifa fans during a European football match. The sign, written in English and reading “Murderers since 1939”, was unveiled during Europa Conference League qualifier against Raków Częstochowa.

The Israeli embassy responded overnight on X, denouncing the “disgraceful behaviour” of some Maccabi supporters and stressing that such words and actions “have no place on a football pitch or anywhere else – ever”. It added that the incident did not reflect the spirit of the vast majority of Israeli fans.

During the game another Maccabi football fan desecrated the Polish national flag by placing it on a plastic doll and simulating sexual intercourse. 

Sikorski publicly welcomed the embassy’s statement, adding pointedly that he hoped young Israelis were being taught that it was Nazi Germany which invaded Poland in 1939 and began murdering its citizens of all faiths and nationalities. Earlier that day, the Polish President’s Office had urged the Foreign Ministry to take a firm diplomatic stance and concrete action in response to the banner.

The match took place in Debrecen, Hungary, with Maccabi Haifa acting as the home side. Raków overturned a 1–0 first-leg defeat with a 2–0 victory to reach the fourth qualifying round.

Source: PAP

Photo: @WarNewsPL

Tomasz Modrzejewski