Polish Ultras Group Sparks Outrage with Anti-Israel Video Ahead of Match Against Hapoel Tel Aviv

The ultras group of Polish football club GKS Katowice, known as "Młody Bastion," ignited controversy after releasing a provocative promotional video ahead of their UEFA Conference League qualifying matches against Hapoel Tel Aviv. The video, published on August 4, 2026, aims to encourage local fans to attend the first leg on August 6. It depicts a classroom scene where students and a teacher, all wearing the club's ultras gear and ski masks while drinking alcohol, engage in a geography lesson about European countries where the club has played.

During the lesson, when the teacher asks a student to identify Israel on the map, the country's name is censored with a beep and subtitles. The student then dismissively replies, "There is no such country," prompting applause and cheers from the class. This video follows a series of antisemitic and anti-Israel statements circulating on social media since it was announced that Hapoel Tel Aviv would face GKS Katowice in the third qualifying round of UEFA's third-tier competition.

The inflammatory content has drawn widespread condemnation and highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the upcoming matches. The first game is scheduled for August 6, with the second leg to follow shortly after. The incident underscores the challenges of combating hate speech in European football contexts, especially in matches involving Israeli teams.