image sourced from original article at Polish President Karol Nawrocki has condemned a banner displayed by Maccabi Haifa fans during a Conference League match against Rakow Czestochowa, calling it 'scandalous' and an insult to Polish victims of the Second World War. The banner, which read 'Murderers since 1939', sparked outrage among Polish officials and the Israeli Embassy in Poland, who demanded strong condemnation and action from European football authorities.
The match was played in Hungary due to security concerns related to the ongoing conflict in Israel, with UEFA competitions currently barred from taking place in the country. Polish leaders emphasized the historical suffering of Poland during World War Two, including the deaths of millions of Poles and Polish Jews in Nazi death camps.
Israel's Embassy expressed its dismay and pledged to address the incident with Israeli authorities to prevent future occurrences, stressing that extremists should not undermine Polish-Israeli relations. Rakow Czestochowa won the match 2-0, advancing to the next round of the tournament.
