LONDON

Police in Poland have submitted the evidence to the National Prosecutor's Office, while an investigation is underway in Hungary regarding the display of a banner last week by Israeli fans calling Poles "murderers since 1939," an incident which caused outrage and a diplomatic row.

At a Europa Conference League match in Debrecen, Hungary, on Aug. 14, between Israeli Maccabi Haifa versus Polish club Rakow Czestochowa, Israeli football fans held up a banner saying "murderers since 1939,” in a muddled historical reference. On Sept. 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, a date many historians mark as the start of World War II in Europe.

The incident caused outrage and a diplomatic row as Polish President Karol Nawrocki decried what he called "stupidity" and said: "The scandalous banner displayed by Maccabi Haifa fans insults the memory of Polish citizens."

The Israeli Embassy in Warsaw also criticized the banner on X, saying: "These shameful incidents do not reflect the spirit of the majority of Israeli fans."

Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that if Hungary helps Warsaw identify those Israeli fans, they will be banned from reentering Poland.

Following the statements, Anadolu reached out to both Hungarian and Polish foreign ministries about their efforts and cooperation regarding the incident.

In response to Anadolu's email, the Polish Foreign Ministry said that the country's Interior Ministry will cooperate with Hungary "in order to identify the fans responsible for the incident. 

Investigation underway in Hungary

Polish Interior Ministry, in an email to Anadolu, said that the Hungarian police launched an investigation on Aug. 15, a day after the incident, "concerning the destruction of property and the display of a disgraceful and deceptive banner."

"On 18 August 2025, the Polish Police submitted the collected evidence to the National Prosecutor's Office," the ministry said.

The Hungarian Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to Anadolu’s email.

Maccabi fans' controversial banner came a week after the first leg of the match in Poland, where Rakow Czestochowa fans criticized Israel over its ongoing assault on Gaza where nearly 62,300 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Palestinian territory since October 2023.

Earlier today, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed famine in Gaza City and nearby areas, projecting that it will spread further south by the end of September.

On Thursday, Poland said it "strongly" opposes Israel's controversial E1 settlement plan in the occupied West Bank, and reiterated support for a two-state solution.

Following the game in Hungary, UEFA announced that both clubs have been charged with "transmitting a message not fit for a sports event."

Meanwhile, UEFA, the governing body of European football, has come under fire for excluding Russia from participating in organizations while allowing Israel to continue competing in UEFA events.