FC St. Pauli in the conflict: jersey ensures anti -Semitic debate!

FC St. Pauli in the conflict: jersey ensures anti -Semitic debate!

St Pauli, Deutschland - It is a story that causes discussions both in the fan curves and in the general public. In the St. Pauli district of Hamburg, the captain of the domestic football club, Jackson Irvine, has caused excitement through a recent Instagram photo. Made on it, with a beer in his hand, he wears a jersey that is modeled on the FC Palestina logo. The fashion brand, which was founded in 2015, has set itself the goal of supporting people in Palestine. But the jersey, which shows a stylized "eleven", which is supposed to stand out from the controversial "territory" of Palestine, has triggered discussions about his political statement. The NDR reported on the controversy that revolved whether this presentation was Israel's question.

among the fans of FC St. Pauli, opinions differ widely. Many emphasize that the jersey can be seen as support for the Palestinian population, while others have the impression that the topic of terrorism is downplayed by Hamas and is therefore considered anti -Semitic. The artist and entrepreneur Farrah Azam designed the jersey, which is now part of a passionate debate among fans.

an association between politics and football

Not only the design of the jersey ensures tensions; FC St. Pauli has become known for its social policy positions in recent years. The association has a large international fan base that is strongly committed to its left values. Like Morning Star , there are tensions between local fan groups and international supporter groups with regard to support for Palestiners. International groups, including fans from Liverpool and Chicago, have published an explanation in which they condemn the Hamas, but at the same time emphasize support for the Palestinian people.

The social and political statements that are often read by German football fans are far -reaching. You are known to position yourself loudly on topics such as solidarity with suppressed peoples. But this also leads to conflicts within the fan base, especially when it comes to a uniform attitude to the complex topics in the Middle East.

anti -Semitism in sport - a tricky story

The discussion about anti -Semitism in football is not new. In the past, there have always been incidents that carry into sports. According to bpb.de , especially in football, a long and problematic history. From verbal insults to physical attacks, anti -Semitic incidents in football are not uncommon. 39 percent of the members of Jewish sports clubs reported appropriate experiences, which illustrates the challenge with which sports associations have to deal with.

In this context, it is all the more important that FC St. Pauli, as an association that manifests itself publicly on social issues, is clear. The association said in a statement on the Gaza War and emphasized that a solution to the crisis must take into account both the humanitarian needs of civilian people in Gaza and the security for Israel. But in view of the current debate about Jackson Irvine's jersey, the question remains how a common attitude between the fans can be found, which effectively takes into account both the right to humanitarian support and the desire to combat anti -Semitism.