Beitar penalized for chant 'Mohammad is dead'

This time, the organization was brought before the Israeli Football Association (IFA) court over an incident in which fans chanted "Mohammad is dead" at the Toto Cup semifinal match. The IFA court put the nail in the coffin of Beitar's hopes when it sentenced the organization to play one game without fans and imposed a fine of $2,500.

Beitar was brought to trial after referee Alon Yefet reported having heard the chant at the game between Bnei Sakhnin and Bnei Yehuda (before a game between Beitar and Maccabbi Haifa). Ironically, the team's next homegame, to be played with no fans in attendance, will take place against the very same Bnei Sakhnin.

Beitar fans (Archive photo: Eli Elgarat)

Beitar attorney Elad Eisenberg said in Judge Yisrael Shimoni's hearing that "it would be simpler to respond (to the charges) if a hearing regarding Sakhnin fan's chanting of 'Allahu Akbar' would also have been held. I understand that the IFA prosecutor has decided not to bring it to court, claiming it isn't a racist chant. It is a fact that the referee marked the chants of both teams. Therefore, the indictment should be withdrawn."

Eisenberg added: "I hear from the police that they have seen an improvement in the behavior of Beitar fans, but they are nevertheless being once again dragged before the court. There is a campaign being waged by the media and Sakhnin to try Beitar…. On the official site of Sakhnin there are pictures of fans burning Beitar scarves and waving PLO flags."

IFA Prosecutor Shalom Even Ezra responded: "'Mohammad is dead' is an extremely racist chant, a racist chant with religious undertones."

The Sakhnin organization did not seem too excited about Beitar's punishment. Regarding Beitar fan calls noting the passing of Islam's main prophet only 1375 years late, Sakhnin Midfielder Khaled Halailah told Ynet, "this is too light a punishment in my opinion. They should have received more that one game without an audience."

Adi Sardas contributed to this report