WATCH: Israeli Football Fans Resort to Violence in Malta Following ‘Palestine’ Chants

July 12, 2023 Blog, News, Videos
Maltese fans chanted for Palestine, as Israeli fans resorted to violence. (Image: Video grab)

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) began disciplinary action on Wednesday following a football match between Israel’s Maccabi Haifa and Malta’s Hamrun Spartans.

The match, held a day earlier as part of the Champions League qualifiers, was disrupted however following violence carried out by the Israeli fans, reacting to chants of ‘Palestine, Palestine, Palestine’ by the Maltese fans.

Tensions rose when the Maccabi fans threw fireworks at the Centinari Stadium in Takalle, purportedly as a response to the chants from local fans, after which the match was interrupted for about 30 minutes.

UEFA accused both clubs of “throwing foreign objects” and “rioting” by their fans. Maccabi faced additional charges of “lighting fireworks” and “acts of vandalism”.

Five Israeli fans have been arrested, according to the Times of Israel.

Malta Today newspaper reported that two pleaded guilty on Wednesday in a local court.

According to the newspapers, police told the court that the two men were arrested after throwing fireworks and that three other flares were found when they were searched.

The two men were given 12 months in prison, suspended for three years and fined $337 each.

Police said earlier that fans who were searched at the entrance to the stadium turned out to be smuggling fireworks in their underwear.

Maccabi won the match 4-0, with the second match scheduled for July 18 in Israel.

(Sanad, Aljazeera, PC)

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