Israeli soccer under fire after star player admits role in sex assault video with unconscious woman
By Evan Grossman
A video capturing Antony Varenne (right) and three other men assaulting a woman has surfaced on social media. (Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images)
The #MeToo movement has not reached the state of Israel, apparently.
The Israel Football Association is under fire for ignoring a sexual assault involving one of its players and, in the words of one flabbergasted politician, giving "a green light to violence against women."
While the soccer organization does not plan to look into it any further, Israeli police may still investigate Beitar FC Striker Antony Varenne after he admitted that he participated in a video released on social media Thursday in which he and three other men assault an unconscious woman, according to The Times of Israel.
Two of the other men are also soccer players in lower leagues, according to Haaretz.
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"I screwed up," Varenne reportedly told teammates. "It happened once and will never happen again. I'll have to live with the shame all my life. Whoever knows me knows it's not what I'm like."
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The video, originally shot years ago and before Varenne signed with his current team, was shared through the WhatsApp social media platform. It may have been used to blackmail Varenne, 27, and there could be additional footage out there, according to reports.
Varenne was born in France and has been playing in Israel since 2014.
Despite the global crackdown on sexual misconduct, Israeli soccer officials do not plan to probe the video any further. Beitar manager Benny Ben Zaken also said Venrenne is scheduled to play Saturday, and that has Israeli politicians hopping mad.
"The team didn't voice any proper condemnation, but announced that he will play on Saturday. So let's help them with their dithering," feminist Israeli politician Michal Rozin posted on Facebook.
"The proper thing to do is to sack Varenne while publicly condemning this deviant act. Anything else gives a green light to violence against women."
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