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Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans celebrating at a rally. (Archive Photo: Sefi Magrizo) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 22:44 08/11/2007 IFA bans Beitar J'lem fans from 2 home games for booing slain PM By Moshe Boker and Rami Hipsh, Haaretz Correspondents, and The Associated Press tags: Rabin remembrance  In the wake of the public outrage and the wave of condemnations from politicians spanning the political spectrum, the Israel Football Association ruled Thursday that the football club Beitar Jerusalem will play two home games without admitting entry to patrons. Beitar management has indicated that it would appeal the decision, Israel Radio reported. The decision is designed to punish the club just days after its fans whistled and booed at the mention of slain former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin's name at a moment of silence before Sunday's nationally televised soccer match between Beitar and Maccabi Haifa at Kiryat Eliezer Stadium in Haifa. The soccer federation's disciplinary committee found the fans guilty of "unsportsmanlike behavior," according to a statement on the federation's Web site. Advertisement "It must be emphasized that the event ... in which we remember the day a prime minister in Israel was murdered is a day that unifies all those for whom democracy is valued and important, without any political differences," the committee wrote. The IFA tribunal met Wednesday night to reach a verdict on Beitar following a tense hearing over the club's responsibility for fan behavior. While Beitar chair Eli Arazi condemned the fans' behavior, he also insisted that they consisted of a minuscule part of the whole fan base, for which collective punishment was inappropriate. At one point he said he had considered resigning in the wake of the incident, but that such a move "wouldn't change anything." Said Arazi, "What, we educated them? Many shouted against Rabin, children who don't know who he is. There are cases of flag burning, of not standing at attention in Memorial Day ceremonies. That's democracy." The judges did not reach a final verdict before press time. Arazi lashed out at the press for its bias against his club. "For four days they're only dealing with Beitar," he complained. "It's easy for the media to attack Beitar Jerusalem." While Beitar's counsel argued that no IFA regulation empowered it to put Beitar on trial for Sunday's incident, the judges explained that the offenses Sunday fall under the rules of unsportsmanlike conduct. Arazi and prosecutor Shalom Ibn Ezra exchanged harsh accusations during the hearing. "We know you're against us," Arazi said to Ibn Era, while the prosecutor retorted, "I suggest you don't behave like you're fans." Arazi told the judges that the incident was a case of "hooliganistic behavior." When asked to explain the sudden decision to put a team on trial for its fans' behavior, Ibn Ezra responded, "I am to blame for not putting previous incidents on trial, but this is a very serious problem in Israeli sports. The Supreme Court told me in the past I can't put fan cursing and comments on trial, but this is an exceptional, serious incident." During the hearing, the judges viewed three minutes from the Channel 10 broadcast, trying to determine whether the fans just booed Rabin or also shouted praises for his murderer. The hearing ended without resolving the main issue on what exactly the fans did or shouted. Beitar asked that if it should be found guilty of any offense, the punishment should be suspended. The club argued a punishment such as banishing the fans from games would lead to lawsuits by subscribers, as well as upset its plan to divide up attendence to reduce violence among Beitar fans. Related articles: All in favor / It's all about Gaydamak Opinion: The right is to blame, the left is to blame Beitar fans boo Rabin before 0-0 draw Bookmark to del.icio.us Freedom of speech A Spanish court rules that the crime of Holocaust denial does not warrant a jail sentence. Road map to peace Israel and PA agree a future deal between them will hinge on implementing the road map.   1.   When would there be Tribunal for Arabs? 04:54  |  Yoav 08/11/07   2.   Beitar behaviour well beyond the pale 08:35  |  Esther 08/11/07   3.   And "Kill the Umpire" Is Okay? 09:17  |  Yisrael Medad 08/11/07   4.   why does beitar appeal to the lowest elements of israeli society? 09:33  |  don 08/11/07   5.   EVEN IF IT WAS 20 GAMES..YOU CANT CONTROL OUR MINDS 12:05  |  WARRIOR 08/11/07   6.   #4 don is right, #2 esther is a dreamer 12:22  |  henry 08/11/07   7.   riddiculous 12:25  |  alon frank 08/11/07   8.   Leftie Esther,booing Petain is also beyond the pale? 12:28  |  Absolute Sweden 08/11/07   9.   Maybe these fans are just sick and tired of having Rabin 12:32  |  GrossedOut 08/11/07   10.   this is a democracy? 12:32  |  harv 08/11/07   11.   What a pathetic attempt at Fascist mind control 12:42  |  Jew 08/11/07   12.   Freedom of Speech - Not in Israel 12:44  |  Chaim 08/11/07   13.   what happenned to free speech? 12:48  |  me 08/11/07   14.   wow, what`s next 12:59  |  joe 08/11/07   15.   Israel is so weak 13:31  |  tony harris 08/11/07   16.   as much as i hate to say it 13:36  |  Jake Barker 08/11/07   17.   Remebering Rabin includes.... 13:47  |  Nathan 08/11/07   18.   What public outrage? Most people scorn Rabin! 13:53  |  redmike 08/11/07   19.   #4 - good that you can say who is the highest and lowest ! 14:04  |  redmike 08/11/07   20.   freedom of speech: there was no holocaust 14:04  |  edward n. 08/11/07   21.   LOLZ @ Soccer Thugs 14:06  |  POP 08/11/07   22.   Nathan,add Rabin`s responsibilility for Syrian success at Yom Kip 14:12  |  Absolute Sweden 08/11/07   23.   shameful decision 14:13  |  kobi 08/11/07   24.   public outrage 14:37  |  JL 08/11/07   25.   Free Speech 14:57  |  Gideon Reader 08/11/07   26.   Germany 1943 no different !!! 14:57  |  Avraham 08/11/07   27.   Welcome to China ! 15:53  |  Motti 08/11/07   28.   Punish the Educators 18:07  |  Jack Rubin 08/11/07   29.   Extreme left outrage- not "public" outrage 19:26  |  Chaim 08/11/07   30.   Remebering Rabin 19:56  |  eynav Benjamin 08/11/07   31.   Politicizing Israeli soccer 20:18  |  Yaakov K. 08/11/07   32.   Booing Rabin 20:39  |  Sol 08/11/07   33.   JUST BECAUSE 22:19  |  Jason 08/11/07   34.   What next? Booing at Holocaust memorial day? 22:20  |  Chaim 08/11/07   35.   #32 22:29  |  James 08/11/07   36.   when you look 22:40  |  Aviel 08/11/07   37.   Collective Punishment 23:28  |  GS 08/11/07   38.   the 1 minute silence unifies all whom value democracy ? 19:34  |  yahn goodey 10/11/07

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