Soccer fans riot after J’lem loss to Arab team

12 arrested as Beitar Jerusalem fans stone Sakhnin players’ buses

By Gabe Fisher 5 February 2012, 11:25 am Edit
Beitar Jerusalem fans during a game against Bnei Saknin in an undated photo. (photo credit: Lior Mizrahi/Flash 90)
Beitar Jerusalem fans during a game against Bnei Saknin in an undated photo. (photo credit: Lior Mizrahi/Flash 90)

Jerusalem soccer fans rioted following a 3-0 defeat at their home stadium against the Arab team Bnei Sakhnin on Saturday night, the Ynet news website reported.

Fans of Beitar Jerusalem pelted the Sakhnin players’ buses with stones, breaking windows and hitting some players. Twelve people were arrested.

Bnei Sakhnin is based in the Israeli Arab town of Sakhnin, and most of its players and fans are Israeli Arabs. The club has a traditional rivalry with Beitar Jerusalem, some of whose supporters are known for anti-Arab chanting during matches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ariw5HhmuHQ

Beitar is the only major Israeli team not to employ Arab players, and the behavior of its fans has gotten the club into trouble with league authorities, The Associated Press reported last month.

 

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