Beitar Jerusalem football team offices set on fire
Friday 08 February 2013
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EmailThe offices of the Beitar Jerusalem football team were set on fire early today in an apparent arson attack.
The attack followed an announcement by police that they would begin deploying undercover units to track down fans involved in racist chants.
Beitar Jerusalem are known to have fans hostile to Muslims and Arabs and fans have been punished in the past for anti-Muslim chants at games.
Tensions have been bubbling ever since the team announced last month that they would sign two Muslim Chechen players - Zaur Sadayev and Gabriel Kadiev.
At a league game in January, fans protesting against the decision unfurled large anti-Muslim banners.
Four men were indicted on Thursday for anti-Muslim chants at the game.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld pledged that they would use "every legal means to halt the continual racism which is basically destroying the club."
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat insisted those responsible for the attack were "not fans but criminals."
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