The billionaire president of the World Jewish Congress has launched a scathing attack on Celtic supporters, accusing them of 'practising pure, unadulterated bigotry dressed up as virtue' over their protests against Robbie Keane.
A large section of the Hoops fanbase made their opposition clear to the potential appointment of Keane as their new manager, citing his spell in charge of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv. The backlash has reportedly led to veteran boss Martin O'Neill being set to take the Parkhead job permanently, while Keane is now seeking a new role after leaving Hungarian club Ferencvaros.
Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams, president of the World Jewish Congress and a noted philanthropist who has donated hundreds of millions to educational and medical projects in Israel and Canada, expressed his fury at the situation.
Adams' Attack on Celtic Fans
Adams said: 'Look at the absolute circus happening in Scotland right now. Robbie Keane - one of the most respected figures in world football, Ireland's all-time leading scorer and a Premier League icon - is currently a top contender to become the next manager of Celtic FC in Glasgow.'
'But a vocal, radical faction of Celtic supporters' groups is aggressively launching a campaign to blacklist him from the job. His crime? He spent a season coaching Maccabi Tel Aviv.'
He added: '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.'
'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.'
Historical Comparison
Adams drew comparisons with dark historical periods, stating: 'The global elite isn't just infected with Israel Derangement Syndrome - they are now resurrecting ideological 'purity laws' that belong in the darkest chapters of 1930s Europe.'
'The historical irony is deafening. Sport achieved greatness because it rejected this exact tribal dogma. The Olympic movement reached its finest hour when Jesse Owens shattered the racist, exclusionary purity laws of Nazi Berlin on the world stage.'
'The campaign against Robbie Keane travels in the dead opposite direction - demanding that we judge people by association, punish them for contact, and exclude them for crossing political boundaries.'
Adams concluded: 'Protect the game. I support Robbie Keane, he is a football hero.'
