Swiss fencers turn backs on winning Israeli team as ‘Hatikvah’ plays at championship
Foreign minister Sa’ar calls behavior shameful; Swiss Fencing Federation expresses ‘regret,’ vows to probe protest; Israeli team said hurt by display
Israel’s under-23 fencing team won a gold medal at the European Championships in Estonia on Saturday, but joy over the victory was quickly marred when the Swiss team they defeated turned their backs during the Israeli national anthem.
The protest drew condemnation from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who panned the Swiss for “disrespectful behavior” and being sore losers.
The Swiss Fencing Federation said it would probe the incident.
Israel’s team of Alon Sarid, Fyodor Khaperski, Yonatan Masika, and Itamar Tavor beat the Swiss 45–34 to take the gold medal. It was a remarkable achievement for the Israelis, who were ranked seventh at the start of the contest.
However, when the Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” played, the Israeli team and bronze medalists turned sideways to face the flags, while the Swiss fencers — Yan Auri, Theo Broshar, Yonatan Fohriman, and Sven Vines — remained looking straight ahead.
Sarid said that though the teams shook hands before the contest, after the final ended “some avoided us,” in remarks quoted by the Ynet news site.
He said the Israeli team members was only made aware of the Swiss protest after the ceremony when they saw photos of the incident.
Swiss fencing team branded ‘disrespectful’ for refusing to turn during the Israeli National Anthem, after Israel took gold at the U23 European Championships. pic.twitter.com/1qPegM7ZAw
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) April 27, 2025
“It was very hurtful to see the attitude we received when we won,” Sarid said. “This is disrespecting us, the fencers, and disrespecting the country we represent.”
“Sports should bring people together, not divide them,” a representative of the Israel Fencing Association told the media.
“Respect!” wrote foreign minister Sa’ar on X of the Israeli team’s gold medal. “Congratulations to the Italian team for winning the bronze,” “Shame on the Swiss team for their disrespectful behaviour. You don’t know how to lose and behaved in a manner which is an embarrassment to you and the country you’re supposed to represent.”
The Foreign Ministry was in contact with Swiss authorities, leading the president of the Swiss Fencing Federation to express “regret” over the behavior of its team. In a statement, the federation said that the protest action was not raised before the contest and that it will look into the matter with team members when they return to the country.
Congratulations Israel fencing team up to 23 year old for winning the gold medal in Europe championship. Respect! ????????Congratulations to the Italian team for winning the bronze.
Shame on the Swiss team for their disrespectful behaviour. you don’t know how to lose and behaved in a… pic.twitter.com/F6ipciJprW— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 26, 2025
The Foreign Ministry said it will continue to follow up on the matter to ensure that “appropriate steps” are taken.
Yael Arad, chairwoman of the Israeli Olympic Committee, called the Swiss team’s behavior “a provocation,” saying in a statement that it contradicted Olympic values.
“Their failure to respect sportsmanship speaks volumes about them as athletes and young people,” said Arad, the first Israeli to ever win an Olympic medal with her silver in judo in 1992. “I would expect them to set aside differences and show mutual respect, especially after such a decisive loss.”
Anti-Israel sentiment around the world has spiked following the October 7, 2023, invasion of southern Israel led by Palestinian terror group Hamas that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and triggered the ongoing war in Gaza.
Israel’s fencing team has faced protests in the past. In May 2023, Iraq’s national fencing team pulled out of a match against Israel at the World Fencing Championship in Istanbul.
The Times of Israel Community.