The Beitar Jerusalem soccer club experienced a sad and stormy evening Oct. 18 with its 1-0 defeat deep in overtime by its bitter enemy, Hapoel Tel Aviv. But the game will undoubtedly be remembered for the unprecedented violence in the bleachers rather than for the players’ performance.
It all began when Beitar’s latest acquisition — midfielder Kamsu Mara from Guinea — began warming up for his debut appearance on the field, prompting the displeasure of a group of radical Beitar fans due to his Muslim faith. Brawls broke out in the bleachers when some club fans cheered Mara, defying orders from the Ultras, who call themselves “La Familia” to refrain from encouraging the Muslim player.
