Polish Club Owner Launches Antisemitic Attack on Hapoel Tel Aviv Ahead of Conference League Match

Alex Haditaghi, the Iranian-Canadian owner of Polish club Pogon Szczecin, issued a vehement antisemitic statement targeting Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv ahead of their UEFA Conference League match against Katowice on July 27, 2023. Haditaghi accused Hapoel Tel Aviv of representing "genocide" and the "evil Zionist regime," condemning Israel's policies and comparing Israeli clubs' participation in European football to political privilege protected by powerful nations such as the US, Germany, England, and France.

Haditaghi's remarks followed a previous controversy in June when he refused to negotiate with Maccabi Tel Aviv over player transfers, likening cooperation with the Israeli club to collaborating with Nazi Germany. In his latest social media post, he urged Katowice players to channel the pain and hopes of millions affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called for the liberation of Palestine, ending with "Long live Iran."

The inflammatory comments have stirred significant backlash, highlighting the intersection of politics and sport in European football competitions involving Israeli teams. The match between Katowice and Hapoel Tel Aviv took place on July 27, 2023, at 19:00 local time, broadcast on Sport4.