Maccabi Haifa Fans Urge Boycott of Jerusalem Match Over Alleged Police Violence

The "Green Monkeys," the official fan organization for Maccabi Haifa, have called on supporters not to attend the team's upcoming match against Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium on Monday. The boycott stems from what the fans describe as police brutality against their supporters during a previous game at the same venue.

The fan group stated that while they had previously ended a boycott of Teddy Stadium a year ago due to club agreements, they witnessed "police violence directed entirely at the general public" at the end of a game in April, even after organized fan groups had left the stadium. They criticized the club's decision to sell tickets and encourage attendance as "too little, too late," suggesting it was an attempt to appease fans and reduce protest noise.

The "Green Monkeys" believe the timing against Hapoel Jerusalem is convenient, implying the club would not have made such a decision if the opponent were Beitar Jerusalem. They asserted that without the club's actions, they would have attended the game as usual. However, they emphasized their focus on the issue rather than ego.

Echoing the club's call for fans to stay away, the fan organization aims to send a clear message that fans are not criminals. They cited specific incidents from the last game, including a 40-year-old man being dragged on the ground for minutes, held for 24 hours, and punches being thrown at 15-year-old boys filming the events, stating these actions were unrelated to organized fan groups.

The organization hopes that Maccabi Haifa fans will choose the "right side" on Monday to ensure the message is unequivocally understood. They have opened a forum thread for discussion and questions regarding the matter.