Jewish NGO tackles UEFA over anti-Semitic chants
Simon Wiesenthal Center claims Bosnian fans chanted 'Kill the Jews' while waving Palestinian flags in Austria
Jewish human rights organisation the Simon Wiesenthal Center on Wednesday urged UEFA to act on alleged anti-Semitic chants during a friendly match between Austria and Bosnia.
The Los Angeles-based group, which combats anti-Semitism and terrorism while promoting human rights, called on UEFA president Michel Platini to punish the Bosnian Football Association.
The Center claims to have a video of Bosnian fans chanting ‘Kill the Jews’ while waving Palestinian flags.
In a letter to Platini, the Center’s director for international relations Dr. Shimon Samuels urged UEFA to “take the strongest disciplinary measures against the Bosnian Football Association.”
“This action debases the beautiful game and presages violence in sport from a new Jihadist-Nazi alliance,” added Samuels.
The alleged incidents took place during a friendly match in Vienna between Austria and Bosnia.
The letter comes just a few days after the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) asked FIFA to ban Israel from international competition over “racist behavior against Arabs”.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter rejected any such possibility on Tuesday ahead of a meeting with PFA chief Jibril Rajoub in Cairo.