‘Fan’atic
Apparently, racism at Israeli soccer games is a big problem. Thirty-five observers, all soccer fans, were recently drafted by the New Israel Fund, a joint enterprise by Israelis and Diaspora Jewry to promote and consolidate pluralism and democracy in Israel. The idea is pretty simple. Reports will be prepared to summarize every game in the national and super leagues according to the “crimes” – songs, chants, slogans, signs, jeers, physical and verbal clashes between fans and players. All will be totaled at the end of every round of league play into a “weekly incitement and racism index” at the stadiums, ranking the teams according to the behavior of their fans, players and team executives and officials. Doesn’t Israel have enough problems already?