On a crisp October Saturday in Frankfurt, Alon Meyer stands on the sidelines of a soccer field, dressed in a tracksuit, observing a youth match. His son’s team, Makkabi’s C-Youth, is playing against FC Kalbach, a multicultural team with many players from Muslim families. Despite Kalbach leading the game, Meyer focuses not on the score but on the spirit of the match—no hostility, no anti-Semitic slurs, just fair play.
A Lifelong Commitment to Makkabi
Meyer, a real estate agent by profession, has dedicated four decades to Makkabi Frankfurt. He has played, coached, and led youth programs before becoming the club's chairman in 2007. In 2013, he took on the presidency of Makkabi Germany, advocating for Jewish athletes nationwide. However, his journey has not been without challenges.
Wearing a jersey adorned with the Star of David can invite hostility, and Meyer has faced anti-Semitic insults firsthand. Despite this, he continues to champion inclusivity in sports. His mission extends beyond competition; he envisions sports as a unifying force, bridging religious and cultural divides.
Fighting Anti-Semitism in Sports
Meyer’s advocacy goes beyond the soccer field. In mid-October, he appeared on a national sports show criticizing FC Bayern Munich for its inadequate response to a player’s controversial social media post about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Later that month, he introduced a reporting system for anti-Semitic incidents at a Borussia Dortmund event, hoping to make it a standard across German sports clubs.
His concerns are not unfounded. A 2021 survey revealed that over two-thirds of Makkabi players had experienced anti-Semitic incidents. Alarmingly, many of them aren’t even Jewish. Meyer notes that non-Jewish teammates, including devout Muslims, often face discrimination simply for being associated with Makkabi. They are labeled as traitors, reinforcing the need for broader societal change.
A Club for All
Unlike some Makkabi clubs that primarily cater to Jewish members, Meyer has worked to make Makkabi Frankfurt an inclusive community. Today, roughly 80% of its members are non-Jewish, representing diverse backgrounds. His vision is clear: sports should unite people of all faiths, nationalities, and ethnicities.
At the match in Kalbach, this unity is evident. Players from both teams exchange high-fives, and Meyer warmly embraces Kalbach’s coach, Farid, a former Makkabi player of Moroccan-Muslim heritage. Their friendship is a testament to sports’ power to foster mutual respect and camaraderie.
Challenges in a Changing World
However, the outside world inevitably seeps into the game. A young spectator asks a journalist on the sidelines, “Are you for or against Israel?” The tension following recent conflicts in the Middle East casts a shadow, reminding Meyer that the work of combating discrimination is never complete.
Following the Hamas attack on October 7, Jewish institutions worldwide faced threats, prompting some clubs in Berlin to halt matches. But Meyer and his team refused to back down. Suspending games, he believed, would mean surrendering to fear and undoing years of bridge-building efforts. Instead, they resolved to keep playing, ensuring that their presence on the field remains a statement of resilience.
The Power of Sports to Unite
For Meyer, sports are more than just competition—they are a platform for dialogue, education, and unity. His leadership in Makkabi Frankfurt demonstrates that inclusivity and perseverance can challenge deep-seated prejudices. Despite the challenges, he remains steadfast in his belief: as long as people continue to play together, they will learn to live together.