Norwegian soccer player rejects 'blood money' to join top Israeli club Maccabi

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The 28-year-old Norwegian soccer striker Ole Sæter has turned down an 850,000 Euro ($945,000) offer from the Israeli soccer club Maccabi Haifa on political grounds.

Sæter, who currently plays in the Norwegian club team Rosenborg, described the offer as “blood money” and criticized Israel for defending itself against the Iranian-backed terrorist organizations Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“I will not represent a country that perpetuates insecurity and evil with the killing of innocent people. No amount of money can buy my values. I choose humanity over blood money. Even if I were offered billions, I wouldn’t move there,” Sæter said in an interview with Norwegian TV2.

“I am confident in my values and happy to stand by what I believe is right. I don’t want such money in my account. There are people there [in Gaza] who can’t live safely in their own homes. It’s quite insane. There’s no way I will represent a country that acts like that,” Sæter stated.

Sæter, who is partly of Pakistani origin, previously emphasized his ties to the country, posting photos of himself wearing a Pakistani soccer team jersey. Pakistan, a state with significant military influence, faces ongoing challenges related to human rights, including concerns about the treatment of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, children, and various minority groups.

Maccabi Haifa is one of Israel’s top soccer clubs. In October 2022, the Israeli team made history by defeating the top Italian team Juventus with a score of 2-0 in its home stadium in Israel.

Political relations between Norway and Israel are currently strained, with the Norwegian government having emerged as a vocal critic of Israel’s conduct in the war.

In late May, Norway, Spain and Ireland unilaterally recognized the state of “Palestine” despite objections from Israel that this constituted a de facto reward for terrorism against the Jewish state.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stressed that “for more than 30 years, Norway has been one of the strongest advocates for a Palestinian state. Today, when Norway officially recognizes Palestine as a state, is a milestone in the relationship between Norway and Palestine.”

In August, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz removed the accreditation for 8 Norwegian diplomats who had been working for the Oslo diplomatic mission to the Palestinian Authority. Katz accused Norway of siding with Hamas terrorists.

“Norway chose to reward Hamas murderers and rapists by recognizing a Palestinian state,” he said at the time.

Many Christians in Norway disagree with their government and continue to support Israel in its war against terrorism. In February, Norwegian Christians organized a rally against antisemitism outside the Norwegian parliament building in the capital Oslo.

“We are shaken by the attack on Israel on October 7th, and it is with deep sorrow that we witness the ongoing war and the global increase in antisemitism and hatred towards Jews. As Christians, we feel a special responsibility to stand up for our Jewish brethren, especially considering the history of the church; so filled with anti-Jewish sentiment and persecution. We cannot remain silent in the face of this reality,” read the joint statement of various Christian dominations in Norway in support of Israel.