PRO-PALESTINE campaigners have hit out at an Israeli-Canadian billionaire who accused Celtic supporters of “practising pure, unadulterated bigotry dressed up as virtue” because of their protests against Robbie Keane.
Sylvan Adams, who is the president of the World Jewish Congress, has been told by campaigners to “stop attacking sports fans” and realise the “irony” of his own words after the billionaire called the protest against Keane an “absolute circus”.
Some Celtic supporters made it clear they did not want Keane to become their new manager after he was reportedly in the running with the now-appointed Martin O'Neill because he managed the Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv during the genocide in Gaza.
Celtic Fans For The Liberation Of Palestine (CFLP) released a statement last week urging the club's board not to appoint the 45-year-old, who played for Celtic in 2010, stating his decision to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv during the genocide in Gaza as “impossible to ignore”.
Adams since hit out at CFLP, saying the supporters group was “aggressively launching a campaign to blacklist him [Keane] from the job,” adding that his “crime” was spending a season coaching Maccabi Tel Aviv.
“Anyone trying to destroy Robbie Keane’s career because he coached in Israel isn’t standing up for human rights - they are practising pure, unadulterated bigotry dressed up as virtue,” Adams said.
“If you think a football manager becomes 'impure' simply by breathing Israeli air, you don't need a political debate, you’re a bigot, pure and simple.”
However, the international grassroots campaign, Show Israeli Genocide the Red Card (SIGRC), which is led by football fans, activists, and human rights advocates, has hit back at Adams comments, saying Celtic fans opposing Keane’s appointment is “not bigotry, but is rather to be applauded”.
A spokesperson for Show Israeli Genocide the Red Card said: “Sylvan Adams has openly said on television that he donated money to the IOF so that they could, 'finish the job,' in Gaza.
“He is a billionaire who has used his wealth to invest in Israeli sports, including his former cycle team IPT to sportswash the reputation of genocidal Israel, so it is perhaps no surprise that he is angry that Scottish football fans are refusing to allow this sportswashing of war crimes, dirty their football team and what it stands for.”
The spokesperson for the organisation added that Keane was the manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv during the “most violent and ugly period of the current genocide”.
They referred to reports from Scottish Sport for Palestine that Maccabi Tel Aviv’s players were shown “inspirational” messages from the Israel Defense Forces while Keane was in charge at the club.
When Keane was appointed to the club in June 2023, he said he did not want to “get into politics” and that he was there as a “football man”.
However, he previously faced criticism in his native Ireland over his decision to remain in charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv following Israel’s war in Gaza in the wake of the October 7 attacks in 2023.
“He has never once spoken out since to say he regrets this or opposes it. He has instead made excuses. Celtic fans opposing this is not bigotry, but is rather to be applauded,” the spokesperson for SIGRC added.
“Adam's former cycle team IPT was forced to remove any association with himself and end investment in Israel because sports fans with a conscience so strongly opposed its links with genocide.
“Perhaps Adams should stop attacking sports fans and accusing them of bigotry and realise that the irony of his statement is clear to all who stand with humanity.
“He might even find taking himself for a calming cycle, something many Palestinians are unable to do due to the bombs he has paid for, will clear his head and help him see sense.”
On Friday, it was revealed that O'Neill had agreed to become the new permanent manager of Celtic after leading the club to a league and Scottish Cup double last season.
Following the news, CFLP welcomed the decision by the club to appoint O'Neill, adding that if Celtic had gone with Keane, it would have “sullied the role and the reputation of the club itself”.
The statement from the supporters group added: “There is a long way to go until those in charge of the club begin to anywhere remotely reflect the values of the support.
“But this is a sign of the power the Celtic support have when we stand together and united.
“Thank you for all those who reminded everyone who we are and what we stand for.”
