PAMPLOMA, Spain (WJC)—The first-division Spanish soccer Club Atlético Osasuna is facing disciplinary action after the referee at the team’s recent game against Real Mallorca, Alfonso Álvarez, reported that home fans had subjected Mallorca’s Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Aouate to anti-Semitic abuse.
According to referee Álvarez, “From the 14th minute and on five other occasions in the first half, [anti-Semitic] chants… were directed at the visiting goalkeeper by the home fans behind the goal, every time he touched the ball.”
The referee informed the match delegate and a message was put out over the stadium PA system calling for the chants to stop. They were not repeated in the second half. The Osasuna fans also waved Palestinian flags and also shouted “murderer” at Aouate.
Aouate told local media that, “This happens to me every time I play here in Pamplona. It really makes me happy that we won.” It was not the first time that the Israeli keeper has been subjected to anti-Semitic taunts by Osasuna fans.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress