Anti-Semitic attacks: Makkabi Köln raises the alarm after the game against Nippes 78 II

Anti-Semitic attacks: Makkabi Köln raises the alarm after the game against Nippes 78 II

After a district league game that did not leave a good aftertaste for many, the TuS Makkabi Köln soccer team and the Nippes 78 II club are confronted with serious allegations. The incident, which took place last Sunday, was marked by anti-Semitic statements and physical attacks, as reported by the Makkabi players.

During the game, which Makkabi won 7-2, opposing players are said to have not only shouted offensive slogans such as “dirty Jew pack” and “Jew pigs” during and after the encounter, but also carried out physical attacks on the Makkabi players. Two players were reportedly attacked by spitting, while further assaults took place after the final whistle, including choking and punching. A spectator assigned to Nippes 78 II was also said to have become violent by hitting a Makkabi player, according to reporting by upday and Jewish General.

Reactions and accusations

The chairman of Makkabi Cologne, Witek Krymalowski, was deeply shocked and ashamed by the incidents. He called for decisive action to protect Jewish life and filed a complaint with the Cologne public prosecutor's office. The reporting highlights that Makkabi Germany sees this incident as an alarming example of the rise in anti-Semitic violence in Germany - particularly since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The behavior of the referee, who reportedly did not intervene sufficiently, was also addressed. The pressure on the responsible institutions, especially the Middle Rhine Football Association, is growing to sanction the perpetrators accordingly and to send a clear signal against anti-Semitism in sport.

Far-reaching consequences

Makkabi Cologne not only plans to document the incidents comprehensively, but also to integrate them into the nationwide prevention project “Together1”. Interviews with other witnesses are already being planned, which underlines the seriousness of the investigation. Cengiz Kirat, the football department manager at Nippes 78 II, has rejected the allegations and claimed that he did not notice any inappropriate comments during the game. At the same time, he criticized the allegations as unfounded and asked for evidence.

At a time when conflicts are increasing in many areas of life, the question is: How will football deal with such incidents? The Makkabi vs. Nippes case will certainly not be the last such disputes, but the way in which it is responded to could make an important difference to what we expect from sport and ethics.