ISRAEL (IINO) 4/14/23
‘Terrorism, violent pogrom’ – Israeli players, fans attacked at Athens basketball game By Adina Katz, World Israel News
April 13, 2023 – “The team won’t ignore these events and a complaint will be filed to FIBA,” HaPoel Jerusalem said in a statement.
An Israeli basketball team and its fans were targeted with violent antisemitism by rival fans when they played in Greece on Wednesday, team officials confirmed to Hebrew language media.
During a recent away game between basketball teams HaPoel Jerusalem and AEK Athens, Greek fans launched fireworks at Israeli fans and hurled bricks at them, leaving several Israeli spectators injured.
“I saw traumatized mothers trying to protect their children, as huge rocks were thrown at them. This could have ended in disaster,” said Eyal Chomsky, owner of the team, in a video statement posted on Twitter.
“At halftime, I tried to talk with FIBA officials and referees, and understood that the best way to prevent the loss of life in this pogrom, was to keep the game going. The Greek security officials, who were very weak, said that if we stopped the game, Greek fans would come attack the Israeli fans in their section.”
[Ed.: The Israeli team should have stopped the game, and defended the audience as they left the stadium.]
