Sydney woman charged for abuse of Jewish girls' netball team

Lead

A 42-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly making antisemitic comments during an under-12s girls' netball match in Sydney, an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation and renewed attention to antisemitism in community sport.

Police were called to Heffron Park in Maroubra just after 10am on Saturday following reports of offensive comments made during a match between Maccabi Netball Club and Saints Netball Club, as reported by ABC Australia and The Guardian. Officers spoke to the woman at the scene and issued her with a move-on direction, but she was not arrested. On Sunday, she was charged and issued with a Court Attendance Notice for using offensive language in or near a public place or school, according to ABC Australia. She is due to appear at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, June 17.

Coverage comparison

The incident has been reported by ABC Australia, The Guardian, and the Jerusalem Post, each with slightly different emphases. ABC Australia focused on the police action and the procedural response, including video footage of the confrontation between the woman and Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, who attended the scene. The Guardian emphasised the ongoing police investigation and the institutional responses from netball bodies and Jewish community organisations. The Jerusalem Post highlighted the content of the alleged abuse and the immediate confrontation by community leaders.

Reports agree on the core facts: the match was between Maccabi and Saints netball clubs; the woman is 42; the incident occurred around 10am on Saturday; police issued a move-on order initially; and the woman was later charged. The Jerusalem Post reported that the woman was provisionally suspended by Netball Australia pending investigation, a detail not mentioned by ABC Australia or The Guardian.

Key claims

• A 42-year-old woman allegedly shouted "F**k the Jews" and "you should have all been eradicated" at the game, according to Alex Ryvchin, as reported by ABC Australia and the Jerusalem Post.
• Ryvchin, who confronted the woman at the game, said she allegedly shouted about genocide and claimed Jews played the part of victims because her comments were reported to police, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
• In a video supplied to ABC Australia, the woman denied the allegations, saying "No" multiple times and stating she was happy to speak to police.
• Other parents associated with the Saints club defended the woman, with one recorded saying "There's a reason why this happens to you people every weekend" and "You're always playing the victim," according to Ryvchin, as reported by ABC Australia.
• NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe called the incident "absolutely unacceptable" and said she was "horrified," as reported by ABC Australia.
• Maccabi Netball NSW president Adam Dinte described the incident as "deeply distressing" and "completely unacceptable," and urged families to refrain from posting on social media and instead share accounts with the club, as reported by The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
• Saints Netball Club posted a statement on Facebook "unequivocally" condemning antisemitism and offering "unreserved" apologies, as reported by The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
• Netball Australia provisionally suspended the woman from attending or participating in league activities pending investigation, with interim CEO Mark Falvo issuing a statement condemning hate speech and discrimination, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
• The incident came during the first week of hearings of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, established after the Bondi beach terror attack in which 15 people were killed, as reported by The Guardian and the Jerusalem Post.
• At the inquiry, AJAX football club president Daniel Onas testified about an "unprecedented" rise in incidents in community sport, including players being told "Hitler should have finished you off," as reported by ABC Australia.

Perspectives

Jewish community leaders: Alex Ryvchin of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and Adam Dinte of Maccabi Netball NSW expressed outrage and distress over the incident, emphasising the right of Jewish players and families to participate in community sport safely and free from racism and vilification. Ryvchin also criticised the Saints Netball Club for not acting swiftly to condemn the woman's behaviour during the match.

Netball officials: Netball Australia interim CEO Mark Falvo stated there is no place for hate speech, racism, or discrimination in the game, and announced the woman's provisional suspension. Saints Netball Club issued a statement condemning antisemitism and apologising to the Jewish community. Randwick Netball Association president Jenny Morrissey said the organisation is working with Netball NSW to investigate.

Political figures: NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe called the incident "absolutely unacceptable" and said she was "horrified," reflecting broader political concern over antisemitism in community settings.