NIF’s Kick It Out (KIO) Israel Team for Social Responsibility mobilized famous soccer players to use their voice and platform to urge fans to cut racism out of soccer in a new video. The viral video clip, entitled “Racism and Violence: Not on the Field. Not in the Stadium. Not Anywhere,” has been featured prominently in Israel’s media and made waves on social media in Israel.
In the video, celebrities like Tal Ben Haim, Mohammed Gadir and Karin Sandel tell fans that racism and violence are intolerable and degrading and have no place in the game.
The release of the clip was timed to coincide with the return of fans into stadiums after the easing of restrictions caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
KIO Israel Director Gal Karpel said, “With the return of crowds to the stadiums, we hope to open a new chapter in Israeli soccer in which racism and violence have no place on the field. To do this we need help from the fans and players. In the clip the players talk to fans and, we hope, get this message across: We must show zero tolerance toward racism and violence on and off the field.”
NIF’s KIO Israel’s Team for Social Responsibility consists of 15 top players from Israel’s leading leagues and includes men and women, Jews and Arabs, and Israelis of Ethiopian origin.