One of the World Cup’s most widely shared moments this week came after the Netherlands and Japan drew 2-2 in Texas, when Japanese fans were filmed cleaning the stands and collecting trash after the match. Asked whether Israeli football fans could ever behave the same way, Bloomfield Stadium CEO Yaakov Chen was blunt: “These are dreams that probably will not come true here.” “I wish it were possible, but I do not see it happening here in future generations,” he said.
Chen said the issue is one of education, discipline and culture, and that he regularly meets fan leaders to try to improve behavior in the stadium. He said he never asks supporters to clean, but tells them: “Do not make a mess, I will clean your dirt, but this is your home, protect it.” He noted that Israeli stadiums often face graffiti, litter and damage, while his staff works to restore the venue before every match so the fan experience will be pleasant.
The stadium employs dozens of cleaners before games, and Chen said Bloomfield has about 700 urinals and toilets that are checked one by one to ensure they are working, clean and stocked with toilet paper. After the match, another 40 to 50 workers are sometimes needed to return the venue to its original condition. He said the burden has been especially heavy in the past month and a half of the upper playoff stage, when games were held almost every two days because of the wins and the schedule.
Chen said the problem is not unique to Israeli fans. After touring Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, he said the dirt there was so bad that he thought, “Wow, my situation in Bloomfield is good.” He added that on an 8 p.m. match day, preparation starts at 8 a.m., usually with about 20 workers, and after bigger games such as a derby the cleanup force can rise to 50. He also said some teams require different preparations, and that during the football break Bloomfield hosts shows, which are less messy but bring a different audience unfamiliar with the stadium’s rules.
