Maccabi Haifa fans fire flares at field, clash with rivals at UEFA game in Malta

Israeli supporters claim local crowd provoked them with racist comments; footage shows Maltese fans chanting ‘Palestine, Palestine,’ throwing objects

By Michael Horovitz 12 July 2023, 9:59 am Edit

Michael Horovitz is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel

Flares fired onto the pitch at a soccer game between Maccabi Haifa and the Hamrun Spartans at Centenary Stadium in Malta, July 11, 2023. (Twitter video screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)
Flares fired onto the pitch at a soccer game between Maccabi Haifa and the Hamrun Spartans at Centenary Stadium in Malta, July 11, 2023. (Twitter video screenshot: used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Fans of the Maccabi Haifa soccer team launched flares at fans of Malta’s Hamrun Spartans during an away game on Tuesday, forcing officials to stop the game for half an hour.

Maccabi fans told the Ynet news site that they were provoked by the local crowd, which allegedly made racist comments, chanted “Palestine, Palestine,” and threw items at Israeli fans.

Around twenty minutes into the game, Maccabi fans fired flares at the soccer field. One sparked a small fire, causing the game to be briefly paused, according to media reports.

Police officers entered the stand where the Israeli fans were sitting in an attempt to bring the situation under control.

In the second half of the game, Hamrun supporters began to throw objects at Maccabi fans, who again responded with flares.

Footage showed scuffles breaking out between the two sides.

Despite pleas from the Maccabi players for their fans to rein in their behavior, the disruptions continued and officials paused the match for half an hour.

Five Maccabi fans were arrested.

The long break was apparently necessary due to the barriers separating the rival fans at the game being deemed insufficient.

UEFA representatives warned fans that the game would be stopped entirely if the clashes broke out again.

The two teams will likely face a UEFA hearing and subsequent punishment for the behavior.

The Israeli club had told its fans in advance not to cause disturbances at the game, as the team is under a suspended penalty of playing without a crowd after fans threw flares at a game against Paris Saint-Germain in October.

Tuesday’s game was in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Maccabi Haifa thrashed the Hamrun Spartans 4-0.

Maccabi will next face off against the winner of an upcoming game between Romania’s Farul Constanta and Moldova’s Sheriff Tiraspol.

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