Antisemitism in Europe reaches new lows, this time on the football pitch. Alex Haditaghi, an Iranian-Canadian businessman and owner of Polish top-flight club Pogoń Szczecin, published an unhinged, inflammatory monologue on X ahead of Hapoel Tel Aviv’s match against GKS Katowice on Wednesday evening in the second qualifying round second leg of the UEFA Conference League. The Iranian businessman, who took over the Polish club in March 2025, exploited the sporting platform to hurl severe hate speech against the State of Israel and the Tel Aviv club.
“Tonight GKS Katowice faces Hapoel Tel Aviv, a club representing the evil Zionist system,” Haditaghi wrote in the outrageous post. “A state that should have no right to enjoy the privilege and legitimacy in UEFA competitions while committing genocide and land theft.” Haditaghi continued his wild incitement, urging the Polish players: “Take the anger and pain of millions to the pitch. Make the stadium shake. Let every tackle, sprint, and goal be a statement. ‘Free Palestine’, long live Iran.”
A History of Incitement
This is not the first time Haditaghi has used his position to attack Israeli sports. As reported in June, the Iranian owner caused a storm when he flatly refused to enter negotiations with Maccabi Tel Aviv, which had submitted official offers for defenders Dimitrios Keramitsis and Léo Borges. Haditaghi did not stop at rejecting the offers, going so far as to compare conducting business with an Israeli club to collaborating with Nazi Germany. Haditaghi’s wild incitement comes as Hapoel Tel Aviv enters the fixture in Poland in excellent professional form, following a 2–0 victory in the first leg in Hungary thanks to goals from Omri Altman and Chico. Elyaniv Barda’s squad holds a promising lead as they look toward a potential playoff clash against Italian side Atalanta.
Will the Red Response Come on the Pitch?
Responding to Haditaghi’s post, Israel Football Association (IFA) Chairman Shino Zuaretz launched a fierce counterattack: “I read with rage the sickening, distorted, and inflammatory statements published by the owner. It is a sickening text from a racist, ignorant, hypocritical pyromaniac.” In his statement, Zuaretz confirmed he instructed the IFA legal department to file an official complaint with UEFA against Haditaghi: “There is no place in football for such dark figures. I always root for the success of our clubs in European competitions, and I have no doubt that tonight we will all be supporting Hapoel Tel Aviv on their path to the next round.”