Finding an overseas striker that consistently scores goals is the dream for A-League clubs – signing them from a rival club is even better.
Western Sydney Wanderers have announced the capture of a player with controversial political views that could divide their supporter base.
34-year-old Tomer Hemed who has played in England, Spain and Israel lit up the tail end of the A-League season just finished – scoring 11 goals for Wellington who narrowly missed out on qualifying for the final’s series.
Upon signing Hemed was quoted as saying: “I am very excited to be joining the Western Sydney Wanderers,”
“There is a lot of work to be done with the club and the fans’ high expectations and ambitions, but I am ready to give my all for the club and the Western Sydney community.
“I am looking forward to arriving in Western Sydney with my family and playing in front of the passionate Wanderers fans who I got to experience as an opposition player last season at Bankwest Stadium and I am delighted to have them now on my side.
“The goal is to have success at the club and I’m ready to contribute in any way that I can.”
Hemed’s signing has come at an interesting time for the much maligned yet marginalised team’s supporter base.
They were once the most envied team in the country for their large vocal crowds, but a culmination of poor performances over the past few years and active groups disbanding has left the remaining fans disillusioned with the injustice they have felt from the heaving policing and lack of support from the games governing body.
Scoring goals means celebrating and Hemed’s controversial goal celebrations might rile up the Wanderers’ large Arabic community.
It’s not uncommon to see players do some form of religious gesture before entering the field of play, after being substituted or when scoring – Sydney FC’s Serbian maestro Milos Ninkovic will regularly do the orthodox cross on his chest before a match.
Even locally in the premier league in each state of Australia you will regularly see team fly the flags of their country’s origin – Serbia, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Macedonia etc
Hemed is a very proud member of the Israeli community. That in itself isn’t a crime, but celebrating with an Israeli flag and Kippah, during the recent conflict could become more problematic than the Wanderers board thought of before signing him.
Wellington Phoenix’s social media pages turned into a toxic troll fest last season with Israeli fans arguing that Hemed should be allowed to display his national flag and faith while being hit with multiple comments like ‘free Palestine’ on posts.
The Phoenix’s PR team went into immediate overdrive and asked for fans to behave themselves and flags not to be flown in the crowd.
As for Hemed, whether he was advised to tone down his celebrations and his pro-government posts on his Instagram is another question.
Hemed’s views see him classed as a nationalist and when you consider the large Palestinian population of Western Sydney, this move to the Wanderers seems even more puzzling.
It will be interesting as a neutral fan watching how Hemed will celebrate the goals and his posts on social media. The Wanderers management will need to let Hemed know what is and isn’t acceptable with his actions.
Western Sydney is a very multi-cultural place, but ethnic tensions in the Arabic community could soon raise their ugly heads if the club and Hemed aren’t careful.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
You're obviously not from Western Sydney
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Western Sydney is a highly diverse society, in Lakemba alone there are over 30 different nationalities. He's going to have to be conscious of his behavior or it might just hit the fan
Rodney McMinge
Roar Rookie
Here's another scenario. You're of arabic extraction, at the game supporting your team ( WSW )....Hemed scores. Do you boo because he's jewish or do you cheer because your team has gone ahead ? There's the possibility that your euphoria could over-rule your distaste for the scorer , at that moment in time. 6&1.
Foot n ball
Guest
Oh ye, believe you!
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Im always suprised by the difference in police presence at an AAMI home game for Victory and City.
Brian
Guest
Of course just as not all Palestinians living in Western Sydeny are WSW supporters
josh
Guest
The North Terrace disbanded, they were Victory's main supporter group, replaced by Original Style Melbourne. The only WSW group that disbanded and some merged back into the RBB were the West Sydney Terrace. The RBB is still there, although many many people have been banned. Ban enough and the group loses momentum, which is exactly what the FFA wanted.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
you'll have to let me know when they play trial games in western Sydney suburbs what the response to Hemed will be from fans
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
so you're saying none of the multiple supporter groups disbanded during gallops time in charge of the game? when not only the wanderers but victory fans were specifically targeted by security and police at matches? (which was definitely still happening last season at wanderers matches). Multiple supporter groups have been disbanded across all clubs in this league over the years, none more so than the victory and wanderers. how many fans that were there in the first year of wanderers active support (or branched off into smaller sub set groups) are still going to games? ? i'd say not many, but thats the same as all a league clubs. Lederer has done a lot of good for the club, but the trajectory of the club has been going the wrong way for some time now. His comments on a number of subjects over the years have left people with zero interest in the wanderers (like myself) scratching my head the signing of hemed, is just another to add to the list
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Brian, accepted but they aren’t all WSW supporters…..wish they were!
RbbAnonymous
Roar Rookie
I think this is a non issue. The club chairman himself is Jewish and that hasn't stopped the Arabic community supporting the club or the players. It would certainly help if he toned the celebrations down, but I will leave that decision for Hemed. I think the Arabic community of Western Sydney are more open than you think, especially if he is scoring goals and winning for the club.
josh
Guest
This is true, people in Western Sydney are pretty proud of those numbers.
Brian
Guest
Since I mentioned it the evidence was that the highest no vote on ssm in the referendum country wide was in Western Sydney. Blaxland was 74% no. Top 5 no voting electorates country wide were all in Western Sydney
josh
Guest
Andy Andy Andy you're so wide of the mark here it isn't funny. Firstly the active supporter group didn't disband, the WSW CEO sent an email out to all members asking for volunteers to start new, more club malleable group to replace the RBB. There were no volunteers and the idea was swept under the rug, it's left a bitter taste though - poor results have nothing to do with it, we stood through 3 grand finals losses - that's proof these past few seasons missing finals is irrelevant. You can be with your team through good times and bad but when a CEO doesn't want you around then you sit back and wait until he's replaced, which is the only solution here. The WSW CEO has also come out and said the club doesn't need members, this is mind boggling but the owners and CEO of the club are intent on setting it up financially to not have to rely on membership $$$, if you need proof have a look out the front of the WSW HQ - that McDonalds and 7-11 are both owned by the club. As for Hemed, WSW need a 25 goals per season striker not a 10 goals per season man, for that reason i'm against him, his background and new supporter group suggest he's a better fit for our Eastern Suburbs based rivals too.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
Absolutely, people aren't aware of the implications this signing could have
NoMates
Roar Rookie
I live in Western Sydney and i know for sure a lot of Arabs/Muslims wont like the signing. I can guaranty a stabbing or riot this upcoming season because of it.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Was this article necessary?
Guppy
Guest
Yes
Buddy
Roar Rookie
AA - I hear you loud and clear. There was an earlier post on here that suggested WSW fans would be anti-gay. I feel that’s a bit unfair and unwarranted or not evidence based. This is very political and as I stated early this morning. I have already seen the division it is causing. I have no intention of being dragged into it but I did feel quite uncomfortable with the nationalist fervour that came with him last season. I could live without it!
Remote
Guest
“If Hemed antics aren’t controlled” Key words AA, bottom line if they are controlled by the club ie a strong word in his ear, should be no issue, if not you get what you pay for, so the saying goes. Can’t imagine many Wanderers fans from the countries surrounding Israel, taking kindly to blatant displays of Israeli nationalism. The Gaza , Israel conflict is still simmering. Personally I don’t think Sports sites like this should allow any hint of politics being involved in an article, but they have, so you get what you pay for.