Hot on the heels of the landmark normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, an Emirati businessman expressed an interest in investing in an Israeli soccer team, Israeli news outlets reported this week.
However, the reports came as a surprise to some as the team in question, Beitar Jerusalem, is known for its links to the Israeli far-right, and a section of its supporters is synonymous with anti-Arab sentiment among Israeli hardliners. The club has never fielded an Arab player.
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Beitar's hardcore fans, known as "La Familia," court controversy by regularly chanting "death to Arabs" during matches. They have also chanted the name of Yigal Amir, a far-right extremist who assassinated Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.
In 2013, the club's signing of two Muslim players originating from Chechnya sparked tensions and threats of violence.
Club owner Moshe Hogeg, known for his efforts to confront and stamp out racism among the fan base, has received the offer following the normalization agreement announced between the countries, sources with close knowledge of the affair said.
It was not clear whether the Emirati businessman wanted to purchase the club from Hogeg or buy shares in it.
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Emirati and Israeli leaders will officially sign the peace agreement on Tuesday at the White House, where Bahrain will also sign off on a similar agreement with Israel.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
