CF Montreal announced on Friday that two supporters have been permanently barred from Saputo Stadium for their part in the antisemitic abuse directed at Dor Turgeman during the club's MLS match against New England Revolution on August 1, ONE reports.
The club also confirmed that the supporters' section identified as responsible will have its privileges suspended indefinitely, and that the wider ultras group was stripped of its usual banners and drums for Friday's home game against D.C. United, according to ONE and corroborated by the Quebec daily La Presse.
Turgeman, the 22-year-old Ashdod-born forward, was targeted with chants of "free Palestine" and "death to Israel" from the home end shortly after putting New England 2-0 up in the 36th minute of what finished a 2-2 draw. He responded by cupping a hand to his ear and pacing the touchline in front of the jeering section, an image that was widely shared afterwards.
In its statement, CF Montreal said "antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate are not acceptable in Montreal, at Saputo Stadium or in our community," and pledged to "continue its efforts to identify any additional person involved" and permanently ban anyone confirmed to have taken part in antisemitic or other discriminatory behaviour.
The club added it had opened conversations with local Jewish community organisations and planned expanded educational programming and heightened security at Saputo Stadium going forward.
New England Revolution condemned the abuse in the immediate aftermath and said it had reported the incident to Major League Soccer, which launched a joint investigation with the club into the conduct of the fans involved.
Turgeman joined New England from Maccabi Tel Aviv a year ago in a deal reported at roughly $6 million plus $1 million in add-ons, and scored in each of his first three MLS appearances. He has 17 caps and two goals for Israel's senior national team.
The incident is the latest in a string of antisemitic episodes involving Israeli athletes abroad since the war that began in October 2023, and CF Montreal's punishment marks one of the more concrete disciplinary responses from an MLS club to date.
