Dozens of Italian soccer fans turned their backs on the field and booed as the Israeli national anthem Hatikvah played before the teams faced off as part of the Nations League group stage in Budapest Monday night.
Israeli announcers tried to rally the crowd with pro-Israel chants, while UEFA officials urged the Italian team to calm their supporters. The Azzurri went on to win 2-1.
The incident sparked outrage in both Israel and Italy. Italian media reported that the act was orchestrated by members of a far-right group known for their antisemitic and nationalist views, aiming to provoke political tensions and create international uproar.
Italian news outlets widely condemned the behavior, with one saying, “The images from Budapest are appalling. Regardless of the circumstances, this shows a lack of respect for the State of Israel and its anthem.”
Italian parliamentarian Alfredo Antonucci strongly denounced the fans’ actions, saying, “Those who turned their backs during Israel’s anthem have seemingly forgotten the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis. These are the same people who chant antisemitic slogans at demonstrations.”
Antonucci called for swift action, urging the chairman of the Italian Football Association to identify those responsible and forward their names to authorities, vowing to hold them accountable. "I feel compelled to apologize to Israel tonight," he added.