A fight ensued between some of the soccer players, the protesters, and security personnel. The event made international news, and the protesters were roundly accused of "violently attacking the players" and of "being anti-Semitic" - with Israel again cast in the role of the victim.
On closer examination of the available video footage (see video analysis below), we see a rather different picture. Four protesters ran across the field, but clearly didn't have violence in mind. All they seemed to want to do was get a message across by reminding people that Apartheid Israel is currently engaged in war crimes. Frankly, Austria should be censured for hosting an Israeli sports team in its country at this time. Whatever happened to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions?
Some say Israeli sports, music, academia and other cultural activities shouldn't be lumped together with the Israeli state's actions. Too bad. If they choose to be associated with that ZioNazi entity, they must accept pariah status and face the consequences of international opprobrium.
Contrary to what the mainstream media claimed, the first 'violent act', which started the fight, was carried out by an Israeli player, who brought one of the protesters to the ground.
Following this assault, the protester's friends ran onto the playing field, presumably wanting to help him. Mayhem ensued and we can see that at least one Israeli player is also knocked to the ground.
But, if you watch the video analysis, and if you count the number of visible punches and kicks that were administered during this short, 2-minute pitch invasion and brawl, you'll notice that the protesters were both attacked first and actually beaten by the soccer players and security personnel, rather than the other way around.
Running around with a flag as a form of protest, no matter where it happens, can only be considered peaceful. It's debatable of course whether it's a good idea to storm the pitch during a soccer game (probably not). But given the completely misleading international media coverage of this event on CNN, the Daily Mail, and elsewhere, I think it's important to point out that far from having anything to do with 'anti-semitism' and 'attacking Jews', this ugly episode illustrated in microcosm how Israel has an extraordinarily free pass when it comes to dishing out brutality and violence. What normally happens as a result of such episodes during soccer matches is that - no matter how brazen the provocation - players who resort to violence receive official sanctions in the form of long-term bans and heavy fines. Players are expected to show a consistently high standard of behavior as 'ambassadors' for the sport and as an example to millions of 'fans' including many children and teenagers. But Israel is held to a different standard.
In a statement, Maccabi Haifa's club said:
"This club believes in co-existence, tolerance and is against violence. We denounce the violence that was used against us."But again, if you watch the video analysis, the crucial moment was when the first violent act was perpetrated by an Israeli player, who started charging towards the protesters in the middle of the pitch, knocking one of them to the ground. Following that, you can count a total of seven direct assaults (punches, kicks, pushes), administered by Maccabi Haifa players and security personnel against the protesters. On the other hand, in the video analysis we can see only one incident where an Maccabi Haifa player is knocked to ground. And this seems to be the only picture that was splashed across the world's news headlines:
The picture that made international news and fits perfectly with the "arabic terrorists" stance of western media
"I demand a full investigation of these incidents. The perpetrators must be brought to justice, because in Austria there should be absolutely zero tolerance for religious or anti-Semitic violence..."Here we are, analyzing a soccer game - an event that ought to be far too inconsequential to discuss on SOTT or anywhere else - and yet we see in it a reflection of today's utterly twisted politics and 'morality' on the macro scale: Muslims and Arabs are defamed in the West for being violent" and "attacking Jews" when the true source of the violence is Israeli Jewish in origin; we see how, despite video evidence for all to see, the facts are misrepresented and twisted to fit Western imperial objectives; and any excuse is used to play the 'anti-Semitic' card, which keeps working remarkably well due to incessant disinformation in the mainstream media.
Even the players are infected with dreams of grandioseness. As I see it these players are far to politically involved to ever play a game again. My feelings all together is that it's to late. The lies are so bold and naked that to me it seems that if it's not the palestinians (who all will be dead as it looks now) they will come after us, the common man.