Israel President Shimon Peres Demands Probe Into Racism In Football

Israel President Shimon Peres "has called on the country's football authorities to clamp down on racism after Beitar Jerusalem fans protested against the club's intention to sign two Muslim players," according to Harriet Sherwood of the London GUARDIAN. Peres wrote to the Israel FA on Tuesday: "Racism has struck the Jewish people harder than any other nation in the world … the entire country is shocked by this phenomenon and will never agree to come to terms with it." He called for the chairman to take a "determined stance" on racism in football. Beitar Jerusalem Owner Arcadi Gaydamak said that he "would sign the two players from Terek Grozny, a Chechnyan Russian premier league team, despite the protest." Other Israeli clubs "have, or have had, Arab and Muslim players" (GUARDIAN, 1/29).