Football is one of the greatest passions around the world, uniting people all around to support their favorite teams! But there is also an ugly side to this world…<

Imagine if you will, your team is playing an important match, after stealing the ball in midfield, one of your players makes a long pass to a teammate who enters the penalty area almost alone and ruthlessly shots the ball into the net.

The announcers spoke of a historic day for the team that scored the goal. But there was no joy at the benches. A very unhappy group of the team’s fans left the stadium with boos and indignation. The reason?

The player who scored the goal was Zaur Sadaev, a Muslim.

Founded in 1936, the ‘Capital Lions’ has a group of ultras who classify the club as the “most racist in the country” and used to be proud of the fact that Arab and Muslim players were not accepted in the team. The club was created by revisionist Zionists, still during the days of British rule in Palestine, yellow and black, the colors of Beitar in Israel, are usually identified as colors of the political right. Among the club’s historic supporters are Netanyahu himself and former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of an extreme right-wing party.

The most extremist group is known as “The Family,” with members involved in cases of violence, threats, and even illegal businesses. Since 2005, the faction has not hidden its nationalist and racist appeals. The Racial discrimination against the Muslim has marred the team’s good name and saddened many less extremist fans, but not all is lost for Beitar, there is hope on the horizon and things may soon change.

Turning a New Leaf

A partnership unlikely until recently became official in December 2020. Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, of the Emirati royal family, bought 50% of Beitar Jerusalem. The investment will be about US$92 million over the next 10 years. The owner of the club, Israeli Moshe Hogeg pointed out that the announcement was sealed on the eve of Hanukkah, an important annual Jewish celebration that celebrates the victory of light over darkness and the people’s struggle against their oppressors.

One of the goals of the partnership is to show that Jews and Muslims can work together and live in peace, but conservative supporters protested the decision. We can only hope that both the Beitar fans and the people of the region find the peace they all long for. 

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