Woman charged over ‘f**k the Jews’ netball abuse

A 42-year-old woman has been charged with offensive language and banned from all netball venues following alleged antisemitic abuse at a junior game in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Saturday.

NSW Police issued the woman with a Court Attendance Notice on Sunday for use of offensive language in or near a public place or school. She is due to appear before Waverley Local Court on June 17.

The AJN understands the woman has also been banned from all netball venues pending the outcome of the investigation.

Police were called to netball courts on Fitzgerald Avenue, Maroubra, just after 10am on Saturday following reports a woman had allegedly made offensive comments towards a group of people during an under-12 game between Maccabi and Saints Netball Club.

According to witnesses, two Maccabi parents overheard a mother from the opposition team say “f**k the Jews, they all should be eradicated”. When they confronted her, she allegedly made comments about “genocide” and accused Jews of “always playing the victim”.

Officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended and spoke with the woman, issuing her with a move-on direction.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin praised the response from police and Netball NSW.

“Credit to the police and Netball NSW for treating the matter with appropriate seriousness,” Ryvchin said on Sunday.

“Decent Australians have put up with too much for too long. The Jewish community has taken a stand for all of us. Yesterday it was our families that were vilified and racially abused. Without action, tomorrow it would have been Greek Australians or Asian Australians.”

On Saturday, Ryvchin called for strong action, saying: “The woman who said ‘f**k the Jews’ and ‘you should be eradicated’ at an under-12s netball game in Sydney should receive a life ban.”

Randwick Netball Association president Jenny Morrissey issued a statement saying: “We will not tolerate antisemitic or discriminatory behaviour in our community in any way.

“When the reports of the matter were received by us immediately the police were called and attended the courts. We are working with Netball NSW to apply the applicable integrity framework as we investigate and respond to the matter. We will have an update for our community on our progress as a matter of priority.

“Right now our priority is care for the Maccabi Netball Club and all of its members. My message to you is that you are welcome, you belong, and you are valued.”

The association acknowledged Saints Netball Club’s response, saying: “I am also encouraged by the strong response we have seen from the Saints Netball Club who have also stood up and condemned antisemitic behaviour and that it does not represent the values, standards and principles of their club. I acknowledge them and thank them for their apology.”

Saints Netball Club posted a statement on Saturday saying it “unequivocally condemns and disavows antisemitism in all its forms”.

“The Saints Netball club offers our sincerest and most unreserved apologies to the Jewish community, to those directly affected, and to anyone who encountered these comments or was affected by them,” the statement said.

Maccabi NSW president Adam Dinte told parents on Saturday: “What took place was completely unacceptable. Jewish players, parents, coaches, administrators and supporters have the right to participate in community sport safely and confidently, free from racism, abuse, intimidation or vilification.”

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said: “Children’s sport should be a place of respectful competition and friendly exchange where all should feel welcome. There must be no tolerance for racism or discrimination.”

The incident occurred as the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion heard testimony this week from witnesses describing children being subjected to antisemitic abuse at school and in sporting settings.