The leader of the Chechen Republic is reportedly going to Israel to attend Beitar JerusalemÂ’s soccer game Sunday.Ramzan KadryovÂ’s trip was scheduled to calm tensions in light of the ongoing clash between the soccer club and parts of its fan base over the signing of two Muslim Chechen players. His visit was also billed as an effort to increase tolerance between Jews and Muslims.
The signing last month of Zaur Sadayev and Gabriel Kadiev — the first Muslims to play for Beitar, a club with a strong nationalist orientation — came under racist attacks by some of its fan base, who oppose having Muslims play for the team.
The team faces another test on Sunday, when it hosts the Arab Israeli team Bnei Sakhnin. Kadiev is expected to play in that game.
Apprehension over the signing of the players was exacerbated Friday morning when unknown attackers started a fire at the teamÂ’s administrative offices. According to firefighters, the blaze was probably started by a Molotov cocktail thrown into the office of club steward, next to the teamÂ’s training grounds. No injuries were reported, but serious damage was caused to the building.
Police set up a special investigative team to deal with the crime.
On Thursday, the Jerusalem District Attorney charged four Beitar Jerusalem fans with racial incitement for their response to the players, who have been in Israel for less than two weeks. News of the indictments came as police said they would work to crack down on racism in the clubÂ’s fan base, which has become notorious for displays of hostility towards opposing teamsÂ’ players during games.
Three supporters, aged 22 to 24, were accused of shouting chants including “Death to Arabs” and “May your village burn” during a recent Beitar match in the capital. Another indictment was filed against a Jerusalem resident who was charged with trying to break into the team’s training ground with the intent of sabotaging the introduction of Sadayev and Kadiev.
The Jerusalem district police said Thursday it was planning a large-scale operation to penetrate a tightly knit group of 30-50 extremist supporters within the Beitar fan base known as La Familia. Police said they plan to use surveillance and phone tapping in order to gain intelligence on the group and curb its activities.