The German Kaiserslautern soccer club submitted a complaint to police over a group of fans who allegedly insulted Israeli striker Itay Shechter with Hitler salutes. The struggling German league (Bundesliga) club acted swiftly in response to the incident that occurred during practice on Sunday, one day after a crushing 4-0 loss at Mainz dropped Kaiserslautern to next to last in the league. The story also made headlines in sports columns throughout Germany and appeared on The Bild website. The group that allegedly performed the Hitler salute was said to comprise fewer than 10 people. They are reportedly familiar to local police, who have been banning them from games for years. The club asked police to investigate and possibly file charges against the hoodlums, and has also urged fans to identify them. According to Kaiserslauterns website, An anti-Semitic incident occurred at practice when racist slurs were directed at Itay Shechter. The club said it distances itself expressly from any form of racism, discrimination or anti-Semitism. The club also ran a noticeable ad on its home page, saying, Racism has no place in [Kaiserslautern] FCK. Kaiserslautern coach Marco Kurz said that such acts of racism and despicable behavior must be harshly condemned. A number of Israeli nationals have left Israel to play in European leagues. A favorite destination is the immensely popular German league, or Bundesliga. Many German clubs, such as Bayer Leverkusen, Nurnberg, Hannover 96 and Mainz began sending talent scouts to Israel several years ago to see what the professional Israeli league has to offer. German clubs -- as opposed to those in other European countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Poland or Hungary -- have a history of reacting immediately to anti-Semitic and racist incidents. In other countries, a similar incident to the one Shechter experienced would most likely have been swept under the rug. Very few incidents of that kind have made it into the local newspapers, the clubs website, or have resulting in criminal indictments against those involved. The phenomenon, however, seems to be running rampant and is largely unchecked in Germanys lower leagues, where the national media are less likely to take notice. Anti-Semitic and racist sentiments have been more prevalent in neighborhoods and areas that were under East German communist control after World War II.
