Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: UEFA, Europa Conference League, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Maccabi Haifa have been slammed by Polish officials after their fans displayed an offensive banner in their Conference League clash against Rakow Czestochowa.
Maccabi faced Rakow in Thursday's Conference League third round qualifier.
The Polish side trailed by one-goal heading into the second-leg following last week's 1-0 defeat.
But Rakow secured a big 2-0 win in Hungary, which was played in Debrecen for security reasons, to secure a spot in the next round of qualifying.
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However, the match was spoiled by the actions of Maccabi fans as they unveiled an offensive banner during the tie.
Yobs held up a banner which read: "Murderers since 1939."
It caused outrage in Poland as the country's president said it insulted the memory of Poles who were killed in World War Two.
Karol Nawrocki called out the 'scandalous' banner in a strongly-worded post on social media.
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On X, he wrote: "The scandalous banner displayed by Maccabi Haifa fans insults the memory of Polish citizens - victims of World War II, including 3 million Jews. Stupidity that no words can justify."
Polish Interior Minister Marcin Kierwinski added: "Anti-Polonism and the scandalous distortion of Polish history by Israeli hooligans demand strong condemnation."
The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw also condemned the vile banner.
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"There is no place for such words and actions, from any side, neither at the stadium nor anywhere else. Never!" The embassy wrote on X. "These shameful incidents do not reflect the spirit of the majority of Israeli fans."
As mentioned, Rakow won the tie 2-1 on aggregate, meaning Maccabi won't be involved in anymore European fixtures this season.
Even though Maccabi have been eliminated from the Conference League, they risk being punished by UEFA.
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That's judging by previous sanctions handed out to Barcelona and Rangers.
Europe's football governing body dished out a ban and fine to Barca after their fans displayed a Nazi-inspired banner during a Champions League game against AS Monaco.
The Catalan outfit were fined €10,000 (£8,332) and prevented from selling tickets for their away game against Red Star Belgrade.
UEFA also issued them a one-year suspended ban.
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As for Rangers, they were sanctioned by UEFA after supporters held up a 'discriminatory' banner during a Europa League game against Fenerbahce.
The Scottish Premiership team were fined €30,000 ($32,400).