Major League Soccer has opened a formal investigation into alleged antisemitic abuse directed at New England Revolution striker Dor Turgeman during a match in Montreal.
The incident occurred on Saturday when Turgeman, an Israeli forward, scored a goal in the 35th minute of a 2-2 draw against CF Montreal.
According to the Revolution, Turgeman was subjected to verbal abuse from fans immediately after finding the net at the Montreal ground.
Video footage of Turgeman’s goal celebration showed him reacting to the crowd by putting his hand to his ear as he celebrated alongside his teammates.
Reports from those in attendance alleged that chants from the crowd included phrases such as “Death to Israel,” among other discriminatory remarks directed at the player.
MLS confirmed on Monday that it is investigating what it described as “reported antisemitic and discriminatory language” from fans during the match.
The league stated that it has spoken with both teams involved, making clear that “hateful language has no place in our league or our sport.”
New England Revolution released a statement confirming they had immediately reported the incident to MLS and were fully cooperating with the league’s investigation.
“We appreciate MLS’ swift response and commitment to addressing incidents of discrimination,” the Revolution’s statement read, adding that they are “hopeful that those responsible will be held accountable for their unacceptable actions.”
CF Montreal also addressed the situation, issuing a statement on Sunday confirming that the club had been in contact with both the league and the Revolution over the alleged abuse.
Montreal vowed to look into the matter and “take the necessary actions” following the disturbing reports from inside their stadium.
The incident has drawn significant attention across the football world, with the investigation shining a spotlight on the ongoing challenge of tackling discriminatory behaviour in professional sports environments.
MLS has a stated commitment to inclusion and diversity across all its competitions, and the league’s swift acknowledgement of the incident signals that it intends to treat the matter with the seriousness it demands.
Turgeman, representing one of the Revolution’s key attacking options, has become a focal point of this troubling episode, which has prompted swift responses from all parties involved.
