The UEFA Conference League qualifying clash between Maccabi Haifa and Rakow Czestochowa has erupted into a firestorm of controversy, with political tensions overshadowing the action on the pitch and prompting a formal investigation by European football’s governing body. What began as a tightly contested two-leg tie has quickly become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over the limits of political expression in sport, as well as a reflection of deeper historical wounds between Israel and Poland.
The first leg of the tie, played on August 8, 2025, in Hungary due to security concerns in Israel, saw Rakow Czestochowa fans unveil a banner in Polish accusing Israel of “murdering people and the world staying silent.” The charged message, referencing the ongoing conflict in Gaza, did not go unnoticed by the visiting Maccabi Haifa supporters, who found themselves the target of both words and, reportedly, stone-throwing outside the venue, according to Ynet.
Fast forward one week to August 14, when the teams met again—this time with the stakes even higher. Maccabi Haifa, having secured a narrow victory in the first leg, needed only a draw to advance. However, the match in Debrecen, Hungary, was marked by a new banner from the Israeli fans, this one in English: “Murderers since 1939.” The slogan, a pointed reference to Poland’s World War II history, immediately drew condemnation from the highest levels of both countries.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce the display, calling it “scandalous” and “an insult to the memory of Polish citizens who were victims of World War II, including 3 million Jews.” He added, “Stupidity that no words can explain.” Israeli diplomats in Poland echoed the condemnation, and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly summoned Israel’s ambassador, Yaakov Finkelstein, to express the government’s outrage. “He expressed his utmost outrage at the scandalous content of a banner displayed by the Israeli fans and thanked for its firm condemnation by the embassy,” the ministry stated, emphasizing that “Polish-Israeli relations must not, and will not, be undermined by extremists.”
Meanwhile, Cezary Kulesza, president of the Polish Football Association, announced his intention to file a formal complaint with UEFA. “Provocations and falsifications of history cannot be condoned. We will urgently appeal to UEFA to take a stance and impose consequences for the scandalous banner and outrageous behavior in the stands during the Maccabi vs. Raków match,” he posted on social media.
UEFA, for its part, wasted little time opening a disciplinary case on August 15, charging both clubs with “transmitting a message not fit for a sports event.” The European football body’s Safety and Security Regulations explicitly prohibit the “promotion or announcement [...] of political messages [...] in the immediate vicinity of the stadium.” Sanctions could include fines or partial stadium closures in future matches, though UEFA has not yet provided a timeline for its decision.
The controversy comes at a moment when UEFA itself faces questions about its approach to political messaging. Just one day before the second leg in Debrecen, UEFA allowed a pre-match display reading “Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians” at the Super Cup final between Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham in Udine, Italy. The message, widely interpreted as a response to civilian casualties in Gaza, was accompanied by the participation of two Palestinian refugee children in the medal ceremony. UEFA explained that the message was part of a campaign with its charitable foundation, which supports children affected by conflicts in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine as well.
Some observers have pointed to what they see as inconsistencies in UEFA’s enforcement. For example, at the Champions League final in Munich in May 2025, PSG fans displayed a “Stop Genocide in Gaza” banner in English, but UEFA did not sanction the club. The recent spate of political banners has led to renewed debate about whether football stadiums can—or should—be insulated from the world’s most contentious issues.
The incidents in Hungary also unfold against a backdrop of longstanding tensions between Israel and Poland over the legacy of the Holocaust. In 2018, Poland’s parliament passed a law making it illegal to blame Poles for Nazi crimes, a move sharply criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and institutions like Yad Vashem, which argued the law would stifle historical research and limit free expression about the Holocaust. While Yad Vashem has identified more than 7,000 Poles as “Righteous Among the Nations” for risking their lives to save Jews, historians note that many Poles collaborated with the Nazis in the persecution and murder of Jews during World War II. These unresolved historical debates continue to shape relations between the two countries and color the interpretation of events like those at the UEFA qualifiers.
The charged atmosphere at the matches was not limited to banners. Reports surfaced of Maccabi Haifa fans’ bus being stoned outside the venue in Hungary, further raising concerns about safety and the potential for violence when sports and politics collide. The Polish foreign ministry’s swift diplomatic outreach and the planned discussions between Poland’s ambassador in Israel and Israeli officials highlight the seriousness with which both governments are treating the episode.
On the field, Rakow Czestochowa ultimately prevailed, winning the second leg 2-0 and eliminating Maccabi Haifa 2-1 on aggregate. The result, however, has been almost an afterthought amid the uproar over the fans’ banners and the subsequent fallout. The matches have also coincided with a campaign to disqualify Israel from UEFA competitions due to its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza—an issue that UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin acknowledged as “a legitimate question” in a recent interview. Ceferin’s remarks have been interpreted by some as openness to reconsidering Israel’s status within European football, though no formal action has yet been taken.
Earlier this year, UEFA drew criticism for a social media post about the reported death of Palestinian soccer player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pele,” in southern Gaza. The post generated controversy about the organization’s stance on the conflict and its willingness to engage with sensitive political issues.
As UEFA’s disciplinary panel prepares to rule on the cases against Maccabi Haifa and Rakow Czestochowa, the broader questions remain: Can football truly remain separate from politics, or is the pitch destined to reflect the world’s deepest divisions? For now, fans, players, and officials alike are left waiting—not just for the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings, but for clarity on the role of sport in an increasingly polarized Europe.
With the dust still settling from a week of extraordinary events, UEFA’s next move will be closely watched, not only by supporters of the clubs involved but by anyone concerned about the intersection of sports, history, and politics. For Maccabi Haifa and Rakow Czestochowa, the journey in Europe has ended, but the debate their matches ignited is far from over.
