Italian national soccer team fined for anti-Semitic fan behavior
FIFA fines Italian side 30,000 Swiss Francs for “improper and discriminatory” behavior of fans who gave fascist salute during Italy-Israel match in Haifa.
By JTAIsrael v Italy - World Cup 2018 Qualifier - Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa, Israel (photo credit: REUTERS)
The international soccer governing body FIFA slapped a more than $30,000 fine on Italy’s national soccer team for the anti-Semitic behavior of some of its fans at a match in Haifa.FIFA fined the Italian team 30,000 Swiss Francs, or about $31,000, for the “improper and discriminatory” behavior of team Italy fans who gave the fascist salute during the playing of the national anthems ahead of the Italy-Israel match held in Haifa on September 5.“A fine is never good news, but I am very proud to have raised the case on our portal,” said a spokesman for the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, or UCEI, which had first brought attention to the incident on its news website, www.moked.it.A FIFA committee later this month is set to issue recommendations on whether to allow Israeli teams to play in West Bank venues, following a complaint filed by the Palestinian Football Association, accusing its Israeli counterpart of violating FIFA rules by holding games without permission on the territory of another member group.