Sportsman in hate speech row over Tottenham anti-Jew 'joke'
Published: 26 Jan 10 10:41 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24590/20100126/
A Swedish bandy player has been reported for hate speech after calling for English Premier League side Liverpool to "push forward harder than the Germans did on the Night of the Broken Glass" in their recent match against Tottenham, a club he refers to as "the greedy Jews".
- Sweden's free speech tradition draws Israeli ire (27 Aug 09)
- Sweden claims bandy world title (26 Jan 09)
- Jews in Sweden under increasing threat (7 Jan 09)
The sportsman later apologized for his outburst after being reported by the Jewish Community (Judiska Församlingen) for agitation against an ethnic group.
"We report all comments of this nature to the police as a service to our members. I understand that he has apologized on his blog but it's now up to the police to decide how to proceed," a spokesman for the Jewish Community's security division told The Local.
Mayborn followed up his January 20th blog post with a triumphant commentary the next day after Dirk Kuyt's two-goal haul sank Spurs, a club with strong roots in London's Jewish community.
"'Pool took three fantastic points against the Jews," wrote Mayborn.
But the bandy player's joy was short-lived, as he was soon made aware that a report against him had been filed with the police.
As the pressure mounted, Mayborn responded with two apologetic posts on Monday, distancing himself from the Nazi movement and explaining that the initial post was "clearly a joke".
"I think Nazis and racists are the worst thing in the world. Unfortunately somebody had a problem with this joke and thought it was in bad taste. Naturally I apologize if anybody has taken offence," he wrote.
Bandy is related to ice hockey, but is an older sport and is played on a rink the size of a football pitch. A curved stick is used to hit a small ball into a goal.
Alexander Mayborn was not immediately available for comment when sought by The Local on Tuesday morning.
Paul O'Mahony
news@thelocal.se
08 656 6513
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He said: "unfortunately somebody had a problem with the joke. ...Naturally I apologize if anyone has taken offense."
In effect, he denies that what he has said is hate speech(it was a joke), but regrets if anyone misinterpreted his remarks. That is to say, he does not believe that he is the problem. Rather the problem lies with those who don't understand his sense of humor.
All of you turned against him and cry for his blood just because he said a stupid JOKE about jews.
BUT When our leaders, artists and people insult seriously Islam or Muslims
We do nothing, on top of that we support them.
I swear that all of you are so inhuman and liars.
"An apology has been rightfully demanded", Tell me, why we didn't support the same thing here and asked the mistaken person to apologize for Muslims ?
However, I don't support an apology for the Danish cartoons. They were charicatures of the violence that muslims do at the urging of their own religion. For me that is not even remotely the same. The violent reaction over those said cartoons, however, speak volumes about the accuracy of those cartoons.
" I don't think he should apologize at all. Lighten up for Christ's sake. Don't let the slightest slight become a major ethnic incident"!
Your type should be locked up and the keys thrown away. Oh, wait that would be playing nice.
What if some nice gentleman was exercising their freedom of speech about first taking all you own including your hair and them killing you in the most horrible way possible? What if he was also calling for all your kind and loved ones to be taken cared of in a gas chamber?
Lighten up for Christ's sake. Don't let this slight become a major ethnic incident.
Do you know what a dhimmi is? Do you understand how it impacted the Spanish people and how historians perceive it? Do you understand why people vehemently fought back?
Of course the Moors had a cultural impact on Spain (as did the Christian on Turkey) but do you really know the human consequences?
I have spoken to many Spaniards, as I have mostly foreign friends here in Sweden, and I think their opinions diverge with yours.
Perhaps it was too close to March 11th, 2004.
It is incredible! Freaking Swedish govt apologized for the cartoons as well as few other nations. It is just the Jews nobody apologizes to.
You know why not? Because Jews protest and request apology when death of millions is made a joke or Himmler propaganda is brought up again. Really got the nerve, them Jews.
Muslims cut off heads, burn consulates, lynch foreigners, burn books, promise eternal Jihad, break into houses with an axe, kidnap, torture, explode in airplanes and put money on the head of the person who DARED to insult islam. (Plus shoot some rockets on the Jews, just as a bonus, since there is no need for a reason there)
CATCH THE DRIFT? Any questions, or all is clear?
You cant just generalise like that. Then you can as well say that Jews kill innocent Muslims and steal organs and are involved in organized crime. Wich is true, a few jews do this, just as there are muslims doing all the thing you are talking about. But just as with the jews, it's a smal percent of the muslim population who's behind this.
* Sweden's free speech tradition draws Israeli ire (27 Aug 09)
* Sweden claims bandy world title (26 Jan 09)
* Jews in Sweden under increasing threat (7 Jan 09)
This is not about "Free Speech". This is about incitement. The power of words has already been proven. Next step is "action". And for anyone who is slow on the uptake, the action is "push forward the greedy Jews harder than the Germans did on the Night of the Broken Glass"...
Here is a picture of one of those "greedy Jews". What solution should we have for this little greedy one? How hard should we "push"?
http://www.ushmm.org/lcmedia/photo/lc/image/77/77929.jpg
Second thing - muslims are running away from their own wonderful countries in millions. MILLIONS! Whereas Jews are leaving Europe. Muslims increase the crime BY 126 times in Sweden, whereas Jews are holding the most Nobel prizes per capita for a nation. Islamic fundamentalism is seen as a threat by european ministers and far right is rising in Sweden, Germany, England, Russia, Austria, Switzerland and France.
There are expensive programs to keep the muslim population out of prisons in Europe and they do not help. The muslims ghettos in Europe are scary for the police, the situation with women in that community is awful, the violence towards children is horrible.
Name one muslim country with a high standard of living! Even Emirates and Qatar are covering half of their population in blankets and men are allowed to beat that half.
Right now, except some terrorists in South america and China, all of them are muslim..
95% of all ongoing conflicts involve muslims (if you consider the drug war in Mexico - a conflict). Minorities in EVERY muslim country are physically disappearing and are beaten into the ground.
I agree that it is not everybody, but don't you see the tendencies? Don't you see it?
Everyone knows Spurs are called "The Yids"
He might have got the translation wrong and written jews or maybe the reporter has.
This has nothing to do with racism it is just some friendly banter which you can do on a blog.
That why he says it's a joke.
lighten up
So he also got the translation wrong from let's "kick ass" to "push forward harder than the Germans did on the Night of the Broken Glass"?
Not really an important news article and not one that should stir up huge response.
all you people no nothing about football this is a bit of banter between football fans.
Everyone knows Spurs are called "The Yids" '
not by the non racist section of the population.
and its know not 'no'
'16:17 January 26, 2010 by Beynch
I don't think he should apologize at all. Lighten up for Christ's sake. Don't let the slightest slight become a major ethnic incident! '
Hell it was only six million deaths and Hitler had a wonderful sense of humour.
He would have been great mates with Alexander Mayborn.
Yes, it was wrong, but I doubt he had a clue. Ignorant? Yes. Hate? I doubt it.