State security investigates Union fans after the game against Maccabi Haifa

After anti-Semitic incidents during the match between Union Berlin and Maccabi Haifa in the Olympic Stadium on Thursday evening, the police state security of the Berlin State Criminal Police Office is now investigating three cases against several supporters of 1. FC Union.

As the police announced on Friday at the request of the German Press Agency, an investigation is being initiated against several as yet unknown people on suspicion of sedition. They are said to have “verbally provoked, threatened and pelted with beer” fans of Maccabi Haifa during a dispute in the fan block and made xenophobic statements.

An as yet unidentified suspect is being investigated for setting a hand flag on fire and damaging a foreign flag. According to police, the man escaped arrest after attempting to light an Israeli flag belonging to a Haifa fan under observation by a plainclothes officer.

Another man was temporarily deprived of his liberty after he repeatedly shouted “Sieg Heil” after 1. FC Union’s 3-0 win in the Conference League group game against the Israeli champions. He now has to answer for “using symbols of unconstitutional organizations,” said the police. A total of 470 police officers were involved in the game.

1. FC Union sharply condemned the incidents in a statement on Friday afternoon. “This behavior is shameful and intolerable. We apologize to those affected,” President Dirk Zingler is quoted as saying [fc-union-berlin.de]. Anti-Semitism is unfortunately still present in society, which is why it is also evident in the stadium. However, the club will never tolerate discrimination in its ranks. “It is important to remain vigilant and to tackle it tirelessly. We support the police investigations with all sources of information available to us,” said Zingler.

The 56-year-old also pointed to many peaceful encounters in the course of the duel. He emphasized a “warm atmosphere”. Many of them had “good encounters and discussions with our guests from Haifa and representatives of Jewish organizations and clubs in Berlin yesterday and in the run-up to the game,” said Zingler. This path will be continued, “because the more people we reach, the more effectively anti-Semitism and discrimination in society can be combated.”

During the game on Thursday evening, the Young Forum of the German-Israeli Society Berlin-Potsdam reported on the incidents on Twitter.

“In the mixed block we were threatened by Union fans, pelted with beer” and, among other things, “insulted as ‘shitty Jews'”, it says in a tweet: “A Union fan tried to set fire to the Israel flag of one of our viewers which fortunately could quickly be prevented by plainclothes police. “

There were also Union fans “who spoke out against this behavior,” it said. Blocks 13 and 14 in the Olympic Stadium were affected. From these, large parts of the group “moved to the Maccabi block to be on the safe side.” Union asked via Twitter for help in identifying the alleged perpetrators.

It was from this Maccabi block that Elmar Werner experienced what was happening – and also noticed the influx of people from other areas of the stadium. “I was surprised that a whole squad came into the block in the middle of the first half. You don’t actually change your place again,” he said on Friday morning in an interview with rbb | 24.

Werner himself is a Union member and has been involved in German-Israeli projects for a long time. He was in the stadium with an Israeli friend and was wearing a scarf with a Star of David and Hebrew script. The two actually had no tickets for the guest block themselves, but had – at their own request – sat down there right at the beginning. “I was surprised that the stewards, who are usually very picky, practically invited us in. Zack, zack we were inside,” reports Werner.

His Israeli companion had taken the S-Bahn to the Olympic Stadium without Werner – and had already felt uncomfortable upon arrival. “It was depressing for her,” says Werner – and: “She has just heard a few sayings against Jews or ‘shit Jews’. I’m tall and broad and when she was with me she said:’ Me I feel better when I’m standing next to you. ‘”On the way back she decided not to take the train again. “Then I drove her, she preferred that,” said Werner.

The Young Forum of the German-Israeli Society Berlin-Potsdam expressed itself again on Twitter the morning after the game. Thank you “for the wave of solidarity online and to the Union fans who showed their solidarity with us in the stadium!” A large part of the Unioners received Maccabi “on a friendly basis and celebrated football with them.” It is also expected that anti-Semitism will be resolved in the stadium, “so that this is still possible. For non-discriminatory football”.

The Berlin Justice Senator Dirk Behrendt (Greens) reacted in horror to the reports of anti-Semitic incidents. The politician described this as “disturbing”. “Anti-Semitism must have no place in football either. My solidarity goes to the fans of the Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa,” said the 50-year-old. Behrendt offered his help with the processing. “We support clubs like Union on the way to a fan culture without hate,” emphasized the politician.

The Conference League game between Union Berlin and Maccabi Haifa was the first competitive game of an Israeli soccer team in the Berlin Olympic Stadium built for the 1936 Olympic Games by the National Socialists. Union Berlin is not allowed to play its home games in its own stadium at the Alte Försterei in Köpenick due to UEFA regulations on spectator capacity.

Broadcast: Inforadio, October 1st, 2021, 7:00 a.m.