A banner displayed by Israeli football fans during a Europa Conference League game has sparked outrage in Poland, igniting a diplomatic row and drawing condemnation from officials and organizations. The banner, which read "Murderers since 1939," was unfurled by Maccabi Haifa supporters during their match against Polish club Rakow Czestochowa in Debrecen, Hungary.
The reference to 1939 alludes to the start of World War II, when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Poland's President Karol Nawrocki, formerly head of the Institute of National Remembrance, reacted strongly, calling the banner "stupidity that no words can justify" and stating that it insulted the memory of Polish citizens who were victims of World War II, including 3 million Jews.
The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw also condemned the banner, stating, "There is no place for such words and actions, from any side, neither at the stadium nor anywhere else. Never!" and emphasized that the incident did not reflect the attitude of the majority of Israeli fans. Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski denounced the banner as "Anti-Polonism and the scandalous distortion of Polish history by Israeli hooligans," demanding strong condemnation. The President of the Polish Football Association, Cezary Kulesza, described the banner as a "provocation and falsification of history".
The incident has further strained relations between Poland and Israel, which have historically been complicated by disputes over World War II and the Holocaust. Some studies have indicated complicity by some Poles in the killing of Jews by Nazi Germany, though many Poles reject these findings, viewing them as attempts to dishonor a nation that suffered greatly during the war.
Some reports suggest the banner may have been a response to a banner displayed by Rakow fans during the first leg of the match, which read "Israel murders and the world remains silent," a criticism of Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip.
Rakow Czestochowa won the match 2-0, securing a 2-1 victory on aggregate. In addition to the banner, Maccabi Haifa fans reportedly desecrated a Polish flag, further fueling the outrage.
