Polish-Israeli relations hit another snag, this time due to some astonishing behavior by Israeli fans at a soccer match. And yet, the Poles had their own aggressive messaging during a previous game.
Poland, as expressed by President Karol Nawrocki, Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, and government spokesman Adam Szłapka, expects a clear response from UEFA regarding the banner displayed by fans.
At the end of a game between Raków Częstochowa and Maccabi Haifa in Debrecen, Hungary, Maccabi Haifa fans unfurled a banner calling Poles “Murderers since 1939.” According to sports journalist Łukasz Ciona, who was present at the match, the Maccabi announcer called Poles Nazis, writes Do Rzeczy.
The Israeli Embassy in Poland published a response on the X platform.
“The disgusting behavior of some Maccabi Haifa fans during the match against Raków Częstochowa. There is no place for such words and actions, from any side, neither at the stadium nor anywhere else. Never! These shameful incidents do not reflect the spirit of the majority of Israeli fans,” they wrote.
„Murderers since 1939” by Maccabi fans is a vile lie and hate speech. In 1939 Poland was the victim of aggression, millions of our citizens, including Jews, were murdered by Germans and Soviets. @FIFAcom @UEFA @MSZ_RP must act.
A few facts for historical ignorants 👇 pic.twitter.com/jH7pHt7acv
— Marcin Czapliński (@czaplinskiii) August 14, 2025Polish MPs were quick to point out that the statement contained a significant inaccuracy. “What side? Today, one side behaved shamefully. Your fans, your team’s fans, PUBLICLY insulted Poles as a nation. Even in a post theoretically distancing yourself, you try to whitewash and maneuver. You could have remained silent. It would have ended the same way,” wrote Sebastian Kaleta of PiS.
The banner came as a response to a similar incident during a previous game by the Polish side when Rakow fans held up a banner reading “Israel kills, the world listens,” reports Neokohn.hu. The Israeli fans also sent a message to UEFA with yet another banner, stating: “UEFA – fair play ends where big money begins.”
Jest już reakcja @MSZ_RP?
Żydzi prezentują skrajny antypolonizm, nie od dziś. pic.twitter.com/HGQAMRKde8
— Dariusz Matecki (@DariuszMatecki) August 14, 2025Konrad Berkowicz, a member of parliament from the Confederation, also commented on the embassy’s post, noting that the foreign minister still hasn’t spoken. “Apologize and, while you’re at it, tell Mrs. Anna Applebaum to wake up her husband. Maybe that will help get him out of bed,” we read.
Mrs. Applebaum’s husband, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsi, did finally repost the Israeli Embassy’s comment, with his own note: “It’s good that @IsraelinPoland reacted to the scandalous banner,” he wrote, adding: “By the way, I hope that Israeli youth are taught that in 1939, it was Nazi Germany that attacked Poland and began murdering its citizens of all faiths and nationalities.”
Dobrze, że @IsraelinPoland zareagowała na skandaliczny transparent.
Skądinąd mam nadzieję, że izraelska młodzież jest uczona, że w 1939 to hitlerowskie Niemcy napadły na Polskę i zaczęły mordować jej obywateli wszystkich wyznań i narodowości. https://t.co/0pYvxSdYUr
— Radosław Sikorski 🇵🇱🇪🇺 (@sikorskiradek) August 15, 2025The match ended 2-0 in favor of Raków, with the team securing a spot in the fourth round of the Conference League qualifying round.
Accusations of any Poles being complicit in Nazi atrocities and the Holocaust are untrue and completely ahistorical, writes Do Rzeczy, with Germany’s crimes being the sole responsibility of Germany operating on occupied Polish territory.
Additionally, “No comment,” wrote the Raków Częstochowa spokesman. More and more photos and videos from the stadium are appearing online.
