The Swiss under-23 fencing team has been hit with severe penalties after a diplomatic incident at the European Championship in Tallinn, Estonia.
The team, comprising Yan Auri, Theo Broshar, Yonatan Fohriman, and Sven Vines, refused to turn towards the flags while Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah, played during the medal ceremony after losing to Israel 45-34 in the final.
Diplomatic Fallout
The incident sparked a diplomatic row, with Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, labeling the Swiss team’s actions “disrespectful” and accusing them of being “bad losers.”
The Israeli and Italian teams, who won gold and bronze respectively, followed protocol by turning towards the flags during their national anthems.
The Swiss Fencing Federation launched an investigation into the incident, and the Swiss ambassador to Israel apologized, stating that sports ceremonies should not be used to send political messages.
Consequences for the Swiss Team
The backlash was swift and severe.
The Swiss Fencing Association announced that it would:
- remove the athletes from the Olympic list
- cancel their scholarships
Two major sponsors also terminated their contracts with the athletes involved.
Yael Arad, from the Israeli Olympic Committee, welcomed the apology but emphasized that the initial gesture was seen as a provocation.
This incident is reminiscent of a similar controversy in May 2023, when the Iraqi fencing team withdrew from the World Fencing Championship in Istanbul to avoid competing against Israel.
📍Tallin Estonia 🇪🇪
The Swiss Under-23 fencing team refused to turn towards the flags while the Israeli national anthem played during the medal ceremony of the European U23 Fencing Championship in Estonia 🇪🇪 pic.twitter.com/gzrBd20bQP
— Tannie تاني 🇵🇸 (@putin_76) April 29, 2025
The Israeli men’s under-23 fencing team achieved a decisive 45-34 victory over Switzerland in the final of the European Championship in Tallinn, Estonia, earning the gold medal.
Following their win, as Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikva,” played, the Swiss team members turned… pic.twitter.com/k4ezfzpH9q
— Creative Community for Peace (@CCFPeace) April 28, 2025