Israel Take Part In FARE Week
Totally Jewish, 08/11/06

Israel participated for the first time on Sunday in the
Football Against Racism In Europe week.

The league match between Maccabi Haifa and Betar Jerusalem was chosen as the game to launch the action and it saw mascots and players come onto the pitch with anti-racism banners, footballs and t-shirts.

Itzik Shanan, communications director of the New Israeli Fund told TJ: “Although we’re working every week to erase racism from the game, this was the first time that we have taken it to this level. We have problems with the Israeli and Arab fans and want to eradicate it from the game as quickly as possible.

“We’ve seen how the English have approached the problem and have worked with them in with our initiative.

“We see football as being a tool in helping to encourage co-existence between Arabs and Israelis."

Since the NIF began their anti-racism initiative three years ago, racism in Israeli football has been on the decline, something which the NIF want to eradicate for ngood.

Maccabi Haifa captain Alon Harazi told TJ: “It’s very important for the players to get involved as racism in Israeli football is something that everyone wants to get rid of.”