50% buyout of Beitar Jerusalem by Emirati causes clashes between supporters
Rival supporters of Beitar Jerusalem clashed on Friday, December 11.
Emmanuel DUNAND AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
This is an astonishing result of the so-called Abrahamic agreements between Israel and the Emirates: A sheikh of the royal family of the United Arab Emirates acquires 50% of the shares of Beitar Jerusalem.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Nahyan pledges to invest 300 million shekels, or approximately 100 million dollars, in the famous football team which is linked to the nationalist movement created by Zeev Jabotinsky.
But team supporters are deeply divided over this transaction.
And during a team training they did not hide it.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Michel Paul
The owner of Beitar Jerusalem booed by some of the club's supporters.
He was even violently attacked by members of the Familia, a group of supporters known for their extremism and their excesses, in all, a dozen masked and all black ultras.
Other supporters carry Moshe Hogeg in triumph on their shoulders.
This takes place at the team's training stadium in the heart of Jerusalem.
Clashes that revolve around the buyout of the club for half by a rich Emirati member of the royal family of Abu Dhabi.
Moshe Hogeg, the co-owner tries to calm the spirits: “
I have a new partner and Beitar has a new owner: Sheikh Hamad ben Khalifa al-Nahyane, a man in love and in love with peace.
How wonderful it will be with God's help to see people in the Middle East shouting together in different languages, goal, goal!
"
The Israeli press has emphasized the ironic aspect of this transaction for the Jerusalem club, some of whose fans are openly racist, and has demonstrated in the past against the presence of Muslim players on the team's pitch.
Four people aged between 18 and 29 were arrested by the police for disturbing public order.
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Soccer
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