Dozens of Italian soccer fans turned their backs and booed as Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, played ahead of the Nations League group stage match in Budapest on Monday night.
Israeli announcers tried to rally the crowd with pro-Israel chants, while UEFA officials called on the Italian team to calm their supporters. The Azzurri later secured a 2-1 victory, but the incident sparked outrage in both Israel and Italy.
Italian media reported that the disruption was organized by members of a far-right group notorious for their antisemitic and nationalist ideologies, aiming to provoke political tensions and stir international controversy.
News outlets across Italy condemned the act, with one publication stating, “The scenes from Budapest are disgraceful. Whatever the situation, this shows a profound disrespect for the State of Israel and its anthem.”
* Ynet contributed to this article.
