A Jewish teenager has been subjected to “abhorrent” antisemitic abuse during an under-16s football match over the weekend, with an opposition player allegedly ripping his yarmulke off before unleashing a string of abuse.
Sky News Host James Macpherson discussed the “anti-Israel activism” propagated by the ABC.
This follows the ABC airing a documentary featuring author and journalist Antony Loewenstein.
Mr Lowenstein is of Jewish descent but loudly supports a boycott against Israel.
“They drag out a fringe extremist Jew with anti-Israel views that echo their own and present him as the real Jew,” Mr Macpherson told Sky News host Andrew Bolt
“The anti-Semitism we‘ve seen in this country is the biggest and most disturbing story we’ve seen in a number of years.
“Yet it’s hardly being covered at all in any meaningful way by our national broadcaster.
“In fact, they’ve gone the other way.”
The South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL) has launched an investigation into the incident where an individual playing in an under 16s match for Ajax Junior Football Club – a Jewish club based in St Kilda – reportedly had his yarmulke ripped off before being subjected to a string of antisemitic insults.
Victorian Deputy Liberal leader David Southwick, whose kids play for Ajax, said parents at the game had described how a scuffle had broken out during the game when an opposition player had “knocked the yarmulke off the boy’s head” before subjecting the player to a string of profanities.
The Caulfield MP told 3AW’s Tom Elliott he did not want to repeat what was said but the opposition player had used “both the F and C word”.
Victorian Liberal MP David Southwick speaks with reporters outside Parliament House on Thursday morning. Picture: Sky News Australia.
When asked whether there was a racial or antisemitic element to the abuse, Mr Southwick said the player had referenced the Jewish player’s skull cap, calling him something along the lines of lines a yarmulke wearing c***.
“We should never have this kind of thing happening at kids footy. It’s just abhorrent,” Mr Southwick said.
“Footy is a place that brings kids together. It’s a place that’s a leveller. It should never be about politics and what divides us.
“We should be putting our differences aside and having fun. And these kids certainly aren’t.”
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The Jewish MP said there had been more than a doubling of the number of incidents over the past year.
“This is not the first incident. I mean, I’ve been talking to Ajax for a while – my kids play for Ajax – and there’s always been racism on the footy field and antisemitism on the footy field… but we’ve seen absolutely an escalation since October 7,” he said.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before. It’s one thing where you see people that have been attacking Israel, but it’s gone another level when you’re seeing schools being hit, kids being hit on footy fields.”
“If kids at community sport are kept safe, then where are we going.”
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg says it has been “frightening” to see the explosion of antisemitism in Australia since the October 7 attack.
Mr Frydenberg will present a new Sky News documentary on the issue, which is due to premiere at the end of the month.
“I wanted to tell that story. I wanted to tell the human story of the lives that are upended by the violence,” he told Sky News Australia.
‘Never Again: The Fight Against Antisemitism’ will delve into the rising tide of antisemitism in Australia since the October 7 attack on Israel.
For the former Treasurer, the issue goes beyond politics, as he speaks with prominent Australians, including survivors of the Holocaust.
Mr Southwick was quick to state that his complaint was not against the SMJFL or the AFL, both of which were dealing with the problem.
A spokesperson for the SMJFL told the Herald Sun that they had been made aware of the incident and were “currently investigating”.
“As such, it would not be appropriate to comment whilst the investigation is underway,” the spokesperson said.