Even anti-Semitic bigotry can’t ruin World Cup

One of the odder stories to emerge from soccer's World Cup in Germany hasn't had anything to do with beer- and sausage-fueled hooligan fans or incompetent referees (there's been little of the former and, depending upon your country of origin, plenty of the latter).

Instead, many in the world and the Middle East in particular are obsessing about a charm stored in the sock of a young Ghanan defender.

During the African nation's shocking 2-0 upset over the Czech Republic on Saturday, June 17, fullback John Pantsil mystified, amused, or, it would seem, enraged millions of viewers worldwide when he celebrated each Ghanan goal by removing a small Israeli flag from his sock and gleefully waving it about.

When news reports revealed the 25-year-old plays professionally for Hapoel Tel Aviv, the mystery was solved, rational folks figured that was that, and sports fans focused on the next bevy of world-class soccer games to be played.

But that was not that, and Pantsil has been warned to keep his socks pulled up and free of Israeli flags with a stern rebuke from his national federation.

On a day when Ghanan higher-ups should have been celebrating a most improbable win over the Czechs, they were instead kowtowing to anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish bigots.

The Ghanan government officially apologized to the Arab League for the young defender's celebration. A Ghanan soccer official added that Pantsil has been warned: "He is obviously unaware of the implications of what he did. He's unaware of the international politics ... He did not act out of malice for the Arab people or in support of Israel. He was naïve."

When the games are over and the soccer crowds have long since filtered home, this will remain a sad reminder of the visceral hatred even the mere mention of Israel revs up in various portions of the world. When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad makes noises about wiping Israel off the map, he comes off as a megalomaniacal lunatic to Western observers, but little incidents like this flag flap are reminders of how many people are nodding in agreement with the Iranian president.

In Egypt, for example, newspapers described Pantsil as a "Mossad agent," or speculated that an Israeli paid him off. On live television, an Arab soccer broadcaster shouted "What are you doing, man?" when Pantsil whipped out the flag.

Israel supporters can take comfort in two developments, though. First, Ahmadinejad's Iranian squad will be on the next plane back to Tehran after being bounced in the first round. And second, Israel has a new sports hero in John Pantsil.

Not to dismiss the racial strife present in Israeli life, but the nation should be proud that a black African non-Jew is so enamored of (and by) his Israeli fan base to display it on the world's biggest stage.

Following Pantsil's rebuking, Israeli Sports Minister Ofir Pines-Paz praised the defender and said Ghana has won many new Israeli fans.

And some American ones too, no doubt.