Jews in association football

There is a long history of Jews in association football, including as "club owners, players, agents, analysts, fans, and directors".

[1][2] In Europe before World War Two, "Jews played a prominent part in European football as players, coaches, administrators and patrons, not to mention supporters".

[8] In September 2010, West Ham United manager, Avram Grant and defender Tal Ben Haim were given permission to be absent from a game against Stoke City so they could celebrate the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur.

[14] In 2023, Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, led a commemorative service for Hirsch at Stamford Bridge before a Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.

[17] The two, from Essex and from Kent, were later charged with causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, an offence under section 4A of the Public Order Act.

[20] This was despite the Jewish Representative Council of Glasgow asking fans to stop due to the mix of politics and football making some feel uncomfortable.

[25] Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers said in February 2024 that it was "challenging" for Abada to produce his best form in the circumstances,[25] and then confirmed that he could leave the club.

[26] On 8 March 2024 Abada left Celtic joining Major League Soccer team Charlotte for a reported fee of £8 million.

[28] On 7 November 2024, supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv who were in Amsterdam to watch their team play Ajax in the Europa League, were attacked in the streets by people shouting pro-Palestine and anti-semitic and anti-IDF slogans.