Designed & formatted with permission of the author, 1312 Press presents a zine version of new essay by writer Liam Kliment titled “Free Hamburg From Hipsters: Football, Zionism, & Palestine Solidarity.” From the opening paragraph:
For decades, St Pauli Football Club (FCSP, or St. Pauli) has served as an intersection of punk, football, and radical politics the world over. You can expect to see FCSP hoodies, hats or scarves at football matches, punk and hardcore shows, or anti-fascist street mobilizations. This international phenomenon has hit quite the hiccup lately, as the politics of a large contingent of FCSP supporters in their hometown of Hamburg, Germany have clashed with the broader international chapters of support over the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Many FCSP supporters, including most prominently Ultras St. Pauli (USP), in Germany have recently displayed signs of support for Israel and Zionism in the wake of the heightened genocidal onslaught of Palestinians. Meanwhile, football supporters throughout the world, many who have had friendly relations with St Pauli supporters in years past, have expressed support for Palestine and an end to the colonial occupation by Israel. This difference in politics has resulted in broken relations between St Pauli supporters and other football supporters across the world. This article will highlight the brief history of this trend of left-wing football, how international groups have interacted with local St. Pauli supporters, and conclude with some reflections on the role of radical politics in football.
This zine has been printed for leftist football fans, football ultras who put their politics behind their football support, leftists who practice solidarity with Palestine but maybe don’t follow soccer, and those in between and outside. Please print and disseminate widely!