German Football Association president Bernd Neuendorf and Charlotte Knobloch met in Germany to address the rising tide of antisemitic abuse affecting athletes, clubs, and daily life across the country.
German Football Leadership Meets to Confront Rising Antisemitism
The living situation for Jewish people in Germany has reached a point of deep concern, according to German Football Association (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf. Following a meeting with Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde München und Oberbayern, Neuendorf stated that antisemitic hostility, threats, and attacks are operating at an alarming level.
The discussion took place around the time of the German national team’s match against Serbia, which ended in a 2-0 victory. Knobloch expressed her passion for football and congratulated the team and Jürgen Klopp on the win, while emphasizing that the values of fairness and ambition must extend beyond the pitch.
Jewish People Face Persistent Discrimination in Stadiums
Knobloch thanked the DFB leadership for confronting hatred, noting that Jewish people routinely face discrimination. She pointed out that anti-Jewish sentiment remains a persistent problem inside sports stadiums, where the word “Jew” is frequently used as an insult and Jewish players and clubs face targeted exclusion.
“Many Jewish people experience antisemitism in their daily lives, in public spaces, and on social media,” Neuendorf said. “More and more are no longer feeling safe and comfortable in our country. We must never accept this as normality.”
DFB Awards Julius-Hirsch-Preis to Combat Discrimination
The DFB has maintained active programs to combat discrimination. Since 2005, the governing body has awarded the Julius-Hirsch-Preis to clubs and initiatives that champion diversity, tolerance, and human dignity while fighting antisemitism, racism, and discrimination.
The prize is named after Julius Hirsch, a German international footballer who earned seven caps for the national team before he was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1943, where he was murdered shortly after arrival. Knobloch served on the award’s jury for many years.
Shared Responsibility Across German Society
Neuendorf emphasized that tackling antisemitism cannot fall solely on politicians, authorities, and the judiciary. Because football reaches millions of people, the sport carries a distinct social responsibility.
“On our pitches and in our stadiums, in our clubs and associations, there must be no room for antisemitic agitation and misanthropy,” Neuendorf said. “We must intervene when boundaries are crossed and at the same time counteract prejudice and hatred through education, encounter, and remembrance.”
