The signing of Israeli player Manor Solomon by Fiorentina has sparked controversy and anger in sporting and political circles in Italy.
Fiorentina announced on Friday its loan signing of Solomon from England’s Tottenham Hotspur, with an option to buy next summer for 10 million euros.
Solomon arrived in Italy after an unsuccessful loan spell at Villarreal, where he played 11 matches across all competitions in the first half of the current 2025-2026 season, scoring only one goal. During some of these matches, particularly against Sevilla, he was met with whistles of disapproval from fans in La Liga.
This deal has caused a major wave of anger in Italy, especially as the player has on previous occasions expressed his full support for the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu – who is wanted by the International Criminal Court – against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over two years of a war of extermination that began on October 7, 2023.
Social media pages run by Fiorentina fans criticized the management’s decision to sign Solomon and announced a series of steps they will take to express their absolute rejection of the deal.
Among the protest measures are not celebrating if the Israeli player scores a goal for Fiorentina and not posting his pictures on social media, according to reports.
For their part, many Fiorentina fans posted very angry comments on their social media accounts following the announcement of Solomon’s signing. One follower wrote, “We have added a terrorist to our team’s ranks,” while another shared, “Congratulations. We’ve gone from the worst team in Italy to the worst team in Europe with one deal.”
One account posted, “Fiorentina is at the bottom of the table, has achieved only one win this season, and in its desperate attempt to survive, they signed Manor Solomon out of all available players. It’s a desperate and controversial deal.”
A Fiorentina fan wondered, “Who knows what Socrates would have said (about that deal)?” referring to the late Brazilian star who played for Fiorentina between 1984 and 1985, known for his political and social stances against injustice and dictatorship and his defense of oppressed peoples.
Political Reaction
The wave of anger moved into the political sphere. The councilor for culture, labor, and youth policies for the municipality of Florence wrote on his official Facebook account, “The arrival of Israeli player Manor Solomon to Fiorentina has been officially announced.”
He added, “Someone who has publicly supported Netanyahu’s policies of extermination is not welcome in Florence and does not have the right to represent our city and our club.”
In his responses to comments, he continued, “We will be booed in every stadium just for having a Zionist player, and even from a sporting perspective, it is an extremely stupid move.”
He criticized the double standards followed by the international and European football federations regarding their stances on Russia and Israel.
He said, “Politics is intertwined with everything. The decision to exclude Russia from sporting competitions and not to lift a finger against Israel despite war crimes is a purely political decision, just as Manor’s silence and failure to condemn what is happening is also a political stance. Sport only has meaning if it conveys values and ethics.”
He explained, “There are posts and statements in which (Solomon) defended his government’s policies and legitimized military operations by Israel in self-defense. And even away from statements, silence when a state kills tens of thousands of civilians means supporting extermination.”
Fiorentina
Fiorentina is the common name for the Italian football club ACF Fiorentina, based in Florence and founded in 1926. The club has a significant history, winning two Serie A titles and experiencing notable periods of success in European competitions.
Italy
Italy is a country in Southern Europe with a rich cultural history that dates back to the ancient Roman Empire, which was a foundational civilization for Western law, government, and engineering. It later became the epicenter of the Renaissance, a period of immense artistic and scientific flourishing, and today is renowned for its globally influential contributions to art, architecture, cuisine, and fashion.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur is a professional football club based in London, England, founded in 1882. Historically significant as the first club in the 20th century to achieve the League and FA Cup double in 1961, it is known for playing at its current home ground, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which opened in 2019.
England
England is a country within the United Kingdom with a rich history dating back to ancient settlements. It was unified under Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, later shaped by the Norman Conquest in 1066, and became a central force in the British Empire. Its cultural landmarks range from prehistoric Stonehenge to medieval castles and globally influential institutions like the Westminster Parliament.
Villarreal
Villarreal is a city in Spain’s Castellón province, founded in 1274 by King James I of Aragon. It is historically known for its medieval grid-pattern urban layout and its significant agricultural tradition, particularly in citrus production. Today, it is also internationally recognized as the home of the successful football club, Villarreal CF.
Sevilla
Sevilla is a historic city in southern Spain, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and landmarks like the Seville Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece built on the site of a former mosque. Its history is deeply tied to Roman, Moorish, and Christian influences, having been a major port during Spain’s exploration of the Americas. The city is also famous for its Alcázar palace complex and as the birthplace of flamenco.
La Liga
La Liga is the top professional football division in Spain, founded in 1929. It is one of the world’s most prestigious football leagues, historically dominated by clubs such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Israel
Israel is a country in the Middle East, established as a modern state in 1948 following a United Nations partition plan. It is a historic homeland for the Jewish people, with deep cultural and religious roots spanning millennia in cities like Jerusalem.
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu is the longest-serving Prime Minister of Israel, having held the office in multiple non-consecutive terms since 1996. A central figure in Israeli politics, his tenure has been defined by a focus on national security, a hardline stance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and significant economic liberalization. His political career, both in and out of office, has been marked by considerable domestic controversy and international scrutiny.
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is a permanent international tribunal established in 2002 by the Rome Statute to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. It was created as a court of last resort to address the most serious international crimes when national judicial systems are unwilling or unable to do so.
Palestinians
Palestinians are an Arab people indigenous to the historical region of Palestine, with a history of continuous habitation spanning thousands of years. Their modern national identity was significantly shaped during the 20th century following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate, and the 1948 establishment of the State of Israel, which led to the displacement of a majority of the Palestinian Arab population.
Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip is a small coastal territory on the eastern Mediterranean, historically part of Palestine and administered by Egypt after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It came under Israeli occupation following the 1967 Six-Day War and is now governed by the Hamas administration after Israel’s unilateral disengagement in 2005. The area remains a focal point of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and faces severe humanitarian challenges due to a prolonged blockade and recurring hostilities.
Socrates
Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher from Athens who lived from approximately 470–399 BCE. He is considered a foundational figure in Western philosophy, known for his Socratic method of questioning and his influence on students like Plato, though he left no writings of his own. He was tried and executed by the Athenian state on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America, known for its vast Amazon rainforest and vibrant cultural mix. Its modern history began with Portuguese colonization in 1500, leading to a unique society shaped by Indigenous, African, and European influences. It gained independence as an empire in 1822 and became a republic in 1889.
Florence
Florence is a historic city in central Italy, renowned as the birthplace of the Renaissance. Its cultural significance stems from its wealth of art and architecture from the 14th to 17th centuries, largely funded by its powerful Medici family. Landmarks like the Duomo, Uffizi Gallery, and Ponte Vecchio reflect this profound artistic and intellectual heritage.
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and his Harvard University roommates. It began as a campus-focused network called “Thefacebook” before expanding globally, fundamentally changing how people connect and share information online.
Russia
Russia is the world’s largest country by area, spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Its history is marked by the rise and fall of the Tsarist Empire, the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution establishing the Soviet Union, and its re-emergence as the Russian Federation in 1991. It is renowned for its vast landscapes, rich literary and artistic traditions, and complex political history.
Europe
Europe is a continent with a rich and complex history, shaped by ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome, the transformative periods of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, and the profound impacts of two world wars. Culturally, it is renowned for its diverse artistic heritage, architectural landmarks, and as the origin of numerous influential philosophical and political movements. Today, it is largely united under the political and economic framework of the European Union.
