Lawmakers condemn police after officers brawl with soccer fans in Haifa

Police officers became violent with soccer fans at a game in Haifa on Monday, sparking an outcry from lawmakers and an investigation.

The scuffles took place at Sammy Ofer Stadium, the home venue for the Maccabi Haifa team, which played against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Haifa won the game, 2-0.

Violent confrontations broke out between officers and fans after the police from the Yassam riot control unit and security guards went into the stands. Several Tel Aviv team supporters were injured.

Videos showed police marching up the stands as fans appeared to be leaving, shoving a spectator into a seat, then brawling with fans, who then threw objects at the police.

Other videos showed police shoving fans outside of the stadium for no discernible reason.

Two people were arrested for allegedly throwing objects at police and attacking officers, one of whom was a minor. Both were released under certain conditions, including being barred from soccer games, police said.

מזה כמה שבועות אני כותב פה שוב ושוב נגד היוזמה המסוכנת של שר הספורט חילי טרופר, חכ סימון דווידסון ומנהלת הליגה להעניק עוד ועוד סמכויות למשטרה במגרשים. האלימות של השוטרים אמש בסמי עופר – היא בדיוק הסיבה.
ספוילר: מחש לא תטפל באף אחד מהם.
ביזיון שנמשך שנים.
pic.twitter.com/dVxYgPwLRj

— Tal Shorrer (@TalShorrer) February 22, 2022

One fan told Ynet, “You just can’t go to soccer games anymore. The police are taking out the game. What happened today was a disgrace.

“There were fans who got crushed in their chairs. A dad who was accidentally in the area had to get beat up to get his kid out. What is this, a war or soccer?”

Fans posted images of themselves online with minor injuries, such as a bloody nose and bruised eye.

Ynet said such brawls between police and fans have become commonplace for the Tel Aviv team’s supporters, who often leave games with bruises and scrapes. Children are often among the audience during the fights, the site said.

זה תיעוד מעוד רבים שיש
לינצ'ים ממוקדים של שוטרים אחוזי טירוף pic.twitter.com/oh8hmi4Zmw

— luc/kas (@lukasone360) February 21, 2022

Culture and Sports Minister Chili Tropper said footage of the fighting “is difficult to see and raises questions about police conduct there. I have turned to the public security minister so the issue will be thoroughly checked.”

Public Security Minister Omer Barlev, who oversees police, said he had appointed an investigator “to check the recent violent incidents in sports in depth, and we will understand what led to the images that came off the fields yesterday and in recent weeks.”

Gaby Lasky, a lawmaker for the left-wing Meretz party, criticized police during a meeting of the government’s internal security committee.

“The police need to be there to protect the fans. So that I, and girls, mothers and young children who were hurt by police yesterday can safely get to the games, not the other way around,” Lasky said.

“Without fans there’s no soccer, and without fans there’s no heart. The police need to change,” she said.

Lawmaker Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List called the police actions “brutal” and “sadistic,” and said the Knesset needed to deal with the issue.

Hapoel Tel Aviv condemned police conduct and has decided to file a complaint with the police investigations unit.

The manager of the company that operates the stadium said there was no significant damage to the facility. “Unfortunately, this kind of thing is almost routine in these games,” he said.

Around a month ago, police had a similar violent incident against Beitar Jerusalem fans in Haifa.

Police said in response that fans had pulled out chairs, thrown them toward the field and the seating area for the opposing team, and vandalized the stadium, necessitating police action. The incident will be investigated, police said.

“We will continue to take action against anyone who violates public order,” police said in a statement.