Antisemitic incident at child’s netball game in Maroubra
Updated ,first published
NSW Police were called to a children’s netball match in Maroubra on Saturday following a “deeply distressing” incident after a mother allegedly hurled antisemitic slurs at the Jewish team.
Police were called to Heffron Park, Maroubra, just after 10am on Saturday following reports that a woman had made “offensive comments” during an under-12 match between Maccabi Netball Club and Saints Netball Club.
Several Maccabi parents who attended the game said: reporter He said a mother from the Saints team said “Jews” and then added “they should all have been destroyed.”
The insult was made in front of a Jewish mother who gave evidence to the royal commission during the week. The mother said it was “shocking that people have the courage to make such comments.”
Alex Ryvchin, co-chairman of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, who appeared in court shortly after the incident, said it was alleged that the harassment had occurred “clearly”. Ryvchin apparently “did not mumble under his breath,” he said.
“These things seem insignificant, but they have an impact,” he said. “It’s not just the words; it’s also how you speak [Jewish children] they see themselves, their Jewish identity, and their place in society.
Officers from East Coast Police Area Command confirmed they had spoken to a 42-year-old woman and ordered action. Police said investigations are continuing.
Maccabi Netball Club president Adam Dinte described the incident as “completely unacceptable” in a statement to club members.
“We are aware that a deeply regrettable antisemitic incident occurred at a netball match today, involving Jewish players and families of our club,” Dinte said. “We take this matter extremely seriously.
“Maccabi NSW is contacting NSW Police and the Community Safety Group [CSG]. We are also writing a formal letter of complaint to Randwick Netball Association and the opposing club.
“Jewish players, parents, coaches, administrators and supporters have the right to participate in community sports in a safe and confident manner, free from racism, harassment, intimidation or slander.”
Dinte said: reporter It was stated that the young netball team was greatly saddened after the incident. “One of the girls on our team told her mother after the game that she wanted to take off her jersey because she didn’t want to be identified as Jewish and didn’t feel safe,” he said.
The alleged clash took place just days after the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion began its hearings.
This week, former Supreme Court justice Virginia Bell heard evidence from members of the Jewish community, including 86-year-old Seafolly co-founder and Holocaust survivor Peter Halasz, who testified that the rise of antisemitism was no longer “a faint echo of a distant past.” He described the current climate as “scary.”
In the statement made by Saints Netball Club, it was stated that it was aware of the alleged incident and emphasized that it “clearly condemns and rejects anti-Semitism in all its forms”.
“Such statements do not reflect the values, principles or standards of our club, our members, our players or our wider community,” the statement said.
“Saints Netball Club offers our most sincere and unreserved apologies to the Jewish community.”
David Goldman, chief executive of Maccabi Australia, the umbrella organization for Australian Jewish Sport, said the incident was “tragic and disturbing” but not isolated.
He noted that a recent survey of 670 Maccabi members found that one in every two respondents had witnessed or experienced antisemitism in the sport. “This is not unique to Sydney and it’s not specific to netball. It’s happened in other sports and we’ve definitely seen an increase in incidents since October 7,” Goldman said.
Maccabi Australia CEO Mandy Penkin said the alleged incident was “appalling” but “not surprising”.
“It’s absolutely shocking that in a country like Australia, in an under-12 netball game, children don’t feel comfortable playing sports wearing Jewish colors for fear of being exploited,” Penkin said. “It’s heartbreaking how often we see this occur.”
David Ossip, chairman of the NSW Jewish Board of Representatives, said the incident should be “expeditiously investigated” and racism and discrimination should not be tolerated. “Sports is all about bringing people together. Children’s sports in particular should be a place of respectful competition and friendly exchange, where children should feel welcome and comfortable, regardless of their background.”
Randwick Netball Association has been contacted for comment.
More to come
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Emily Kowal is the education correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
Alexandra Smith is a senior writer and former state political editor for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
