During the Israel-Paraguay soccer match at the Paris Olympics, individuals with anti-Semitic views were reported to have chanted “Heil Hitler” and made Nazi salutes during the Israeli national anthem, as per USA Today.
Video footage of the incident can be viewed on Yahoo Sports, which described the chant as “indistinguishable.”
In addition, a “Genocide Olympics” banner was displayed at the match.
The protesters were removed from the stadium by stewards, as reported by Sky News.
French authorities have launched an investigation into the anti-Semitic display, according to CNN.
Paris 2024 also issued a statement strongly condemning the acts and has filed a complaint to support the investigation.
Despite this unsportsmanlike behavior, Guy Luzon, head coach of Israel’s soccer team, expressed that such protests only motivate them to work harder.
Paraguay ultimately won the match 4-2 over Israel.
Prior to the Olympics, there had been opposition towards Israeli athletes in Paris from a French left-wing politician and a request from the Palestine Olympic committee to prohibit Israel’s participation in the games.
More from Yahoo Sports:
In an effort to limit the threat of potential clashes between Israeli fans and pro-Palestinian activists, French Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin vowed to create an “antiterrorism perimeter” around Israel’s opening soccer match against Mali last Wednesday. Outside the stadium, throngs of police kept watch or patrolled by foot. Most carried guns and wore bulletproof vests. Some were on horseback or clad in riot gear.
The Israeli soccer team bus arrived last Wednesday escorted by an armada of motorcycle police and police vans. As kickoff approached, the sound of police helicopters could be heard overhead.
Kickoff between Israel and Mali arrived without any major disturbances, save for loud boos and whistles from the crowd at the start of the Israeli national anthem. It’s unclear how much, if at all, the police presence was scaled back for Israel’s second match against Paraguay.