Athletes & Sports

Every entry documents dated, sourced public conduct. The factual record and Galil's opinion are presented separately. Click any name for the full record. See the Ledger standard.

Athletes, coaches, teams, and sports bodies with a documented public action or incident within the Ledger's scope.

On the record

  • Kyrie Irving — (NBA) — suspended after promoting a film with Holocaust denial; later apologized and made amends.
  • DeSean Jackson — (NFL) — posted a passage misattributed to Hitler; apologized.
  • Stephen Jackson — (former NBA) — invoked a Rothschild banking conspiracy on camera; apologized.
  • Michael Bennett — (NFL) — withdrew from an Israeli-government trip in protest.
  • Frédéric Kanouté — (footballer) — led a players’ petition against Israel hosting a UEFA tournament.
  • Roberto Lopes — (footballer) — co-signed a letter urging Ireland to boycott its matches against Israel.
  • Anwar El Ghazi — (athlete) — On October 17, 2023, Dutch-Moroccan professional footballer Anwar El Ghazi (then of Bundesliga club Mainz 05) posted an Instagram statement calling the…
  • Karim Benzema — (athlete) — On Sunday, October 15, 2023 — eight days after Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel — Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema (then playing for Al-Ittihad in Saudi…
  • Mesut Özil — (athlete) — On May 11, 2021, then-Fenerbahçe midfielder Mesut Özil wore a "Free Palestine" T-shirt bearing Palestinian and Turkish flags during pre-match warmups…
  • Moeen Ali — (athlete) — On July 28, 2014, during Day 2 of the third Test against India at Southampton (Ageas Bowl), England cricketer Moeen Ali wore wristbands reading "Save…
  • Mohamed Elneny — (athlete) — On May 10, 2021, as Israeli-Gaza fighting escalated amid the Sheikh Jarrah/al-Aqsa unrest, Arsenal and Egypt national team midfielder Mohamed Elneny…
  • Paul Pogba — (athlete) — On May 18, 2021, amid that month's Israel-Gaza fighting, Manchester United's Paul Pogba and teammate Amad Diallo raised and carried a Palestinian flag on…

Explicit public conduct

  • Giorgos Katidis — (athlete) — On March 16, 2013, AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis performed a Nazi salute while celebrating the winning goal against Veria; the Hellenic Football…
  • Josip Šimunić — (athlete) — On November 19, 2013, after Croatia's 2-0 World Cup playoff win over Iceland, Croatian defender Josip Šimunić grabbed a stadium microphone and led the…
  • Larry Johnson (NFL) — (athlete) — On August 2, 2020, former Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson tweeted a message invoking the antisemitic "Jewish cabal" conspiracy…
  • Marge Schott — (athlete) — On May 5, 1996, Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio in a nationally aired interview that Hitler "was good" at the outset of his…
  • Mario Balotelli — (athlete) — On December 1, 2014, then-Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli posted an Instagram image captioned in part "grabs coins like a Jew"; the English FA…
  • Meyers Leonard — (athlete) — On March 8, 2021, Miami Heat center Meyers Leonard used the antisemitic slur "kike" while livestreaming Call of Duty: Warzone on Twitch, and the NBA…
  • Royce White — (athlete) — At a July 4, 2024 rally outside the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, former NBA player and GOP-endorsed Minnesota U.S. Senate candidate Royce White…
  • Tyson Fury — (athlete) — In a video interview reported on May 16, 2016, then-world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury said people are being "brainwashed by all the Zionist…

Where Galil stands

Our opinion: Galil opposes using sport to spread antisemitic claims or single out Israel for boycott. Each entry documents the conduct and any later apology or correction.

Ledger systematically reviewed 2026-07-27; entries last updated through 2026-07-27. Anything labeled “our opinion” is opinion. Corrections are added to the record.