Police investigate antisemitic abuse at Sydney children’s netball game involving Maccabi and Saints teams
Consensus Summary
Police in Sydney investigated an alleged antisemitic incident at a children’s netball game on May 10, 2026, at Heffron Park in Maroubra, where a 42-year-old woman reportedly made offensive comments targeting Jewish players and families from Maccabi Netball NSW during a match against Saints Netball Club. The woman was issued a move-on direction by officers, and inquiries are ongoing. The incident occurred amid the first week of public hearings for the Royal Commission into Antisemitism, which was established following a terror attack at a Bondi beach Hanukkah celebration that killed 15 people. Both clubs and Jewish community leaders condemned the abuse, with Maccabi Netball NSW calling the incident 'completely unacceptable' and vowing to take formal action. The Randwick Netball Association also pledged to investigate and ensure no tolerance for such behavior. The SMH reported that a young Maccabi player expressed fear of being identified as Jewish after the incident, while community leaders highlighted the broader issue of rising antisemitism in Australian sports, particularly since October 7, 2023.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Police were called to Heffron Park, Maroubra, Sydney, on Saturday, May 10, 2026, at approximately 10:00 AM regarding an alleged antisemitic incident during an under-12 netball game between Maccabi Netball NSW and Saints Netball Club.
- A 42-year-old woman was spoken to by police and issued a move-on direction after allegedly making antisemitic comments during the game.
- The alleged antisemitic comments included the slurs 'F--- the Jews' and 'they should have all been eradicated,' as reported by Maccabi parents to the SMH.
- Maccabi Netball NSW president Adam Dinte called the incident 'completely unacceptable' and stated the organization was communicating with NSW Police and the Community Security Group (CSG).
- The incident occurred during the first week of public hearings of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism, established after the Bondi beach terror attack in which 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah celebration.
- The Saints Netball Club issued a statement condemning antisemitism and apologizing to the Jewish community and those affected.
- The Randwick Netball Association is investigating the incident and stated it would not tolerate antisemitic or discriminatory behavior.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, stated the organization would do 'everything within our power to make sure it is treated with the seriousness it deserves.'
- The co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Alex Ryvchin, called for a 'life ban' for the woman who allegedly made the comments and suggested referees should stop games immediately upon such abuse.
- A formal letter of complaint was written to the Randwick Netball Association and the Saints Netball club by Maccabi Netball NSW.
- A Jewish mother who gave evidence to the royal commission during the week was present when the slur was allegedly made, calling it 'shocking that people feel emboldened to say comments like this.'
- Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin stated the abuse happened 'in plain sight' and was not muttered under the breath.
- A young Maccabi player reportedly told her mother after the game that she wanted to remove her uniform because she 'didn’t want to be identified as Jewish' and 'didn’t feel safe.'
- Maccabi Australia general manager David Goldman noted a recent survey of 670 Maccabi members found nearly one in two respondents had either witnessed or experienced antisemitism in sport, with a spike in incidents since October 7, 2023.
- Maccabi Australia chief executive Mandy Penkin called the incident 'horrifying' and 'unsurprising,' stating it was shocking that Jewish children should not feel comfortable playing sport in fear of abuse.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian does not explicitly mention the specific slurs ('F--- the Jews' and 'they should have all been eradicated') as reported by the SMH, though it confirms the incident involved offensive antisemitic comments.
Source Articles
Police investigate alleged antisemitic abuse at children’s netball game in Sydney
NSW police called to incident in Maroubra amid reports of offensive comments made at under-12s game Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Police are investigating an alleged antisemitic comment made at a children’s netball game involving a Jewish-led team in Sydney. New South Wales police said it was called to netball courts at Heffron Park in Maroubra just after 10am on Saturday, after reports a woman had made offensi
‘Deeply distressing’: Police called to children’s netball game after antisemitic incident
Officers confirmed they had spoken with a 42-year-old woman and issued a move-on direction.