Major League Soccer has opened an investigation after supporters at CF Montréal were accused of directing antisemitic and discriminatory chants toward New England Revolution forward Dor Turgeman during a league match played Saturday at Stade Saputo in Quebec.
Broadcast audio picked up sections of the home crowd chanting "free Palestine" in the moments before Turgeman, who is Israeli, found the net. The 22-year-old striker put the Revolution ahead 2-0 in the 36th minute with a close-range finish, and his reaction to the crowd afterward became a defining moment of the match. He stood before the home supporters' section with his arms spread wide as fans jeered and gestured toward him, then cupped a hand to his ear and walked the length of the stand with the pitch between himself and the crowd. The contest eventually finished level at 2-2.
MLS confirmed on Monday it was looking into the incident, stating the league was "aware of reported antisemitic and discriminatory language directed at a New England Revolution player" and that the situation remains under review.
New England responded with a strongly worded statement condemning the behavior of the Montréal supporters. "The Revolution strongly condemn the antisemitic and discriminatory abuse directed at forward Dor Turgeman by CF Montreal supporters during Saturday's away match," the club said. "The club immediately reported the incident to Major League Soccer and has fully supported the investigation. We appreciate MLS' swift response and commitment to addressing incidents of discrimination. We are hopeful that those responsible will be held accountable for their unacceptable actions."
CF Montréal issued its own statement Sunday, pledging to look into what transpired at its stadium. "The club does not tolerate discrimination, or hateful behavior of any kind," the statement read. "We take these allegations very seriously and are currently reviewing the matter. We are in contact with MLS and the New England Revolution as we work to establish all the facts and take the necessary actions."
Turgeman, who joined New England last season, has become a focal point in a broader debate the league has grappled with since the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated in October 2023. In the aftermath of the Hamas attack that year, MLS instituted a ban on both Israeli and Palestinian flags at its stadiums, though it carved out exceptions for cases where a player of that nationality is on a team's roster. That exemption allowed Columbus Crew fans to fly the Palestinian flag following the club's signing of Palestinian international Wessam Abou Ali this past August, even as the general prohibition remains in place across the league.
This is not the first time MLS has had to address controversy tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In February 2025, the league publicly criticized Los Angeles FC investor Ruben Gnanalingam over anti-Israel posts he had shared on LinkedIn. Gnanalingam later apologized for the posts and has continued to hold his ownership stake in the club.
The latest episode in Montreal adds to a growing list of incidents MLS has had to navigate as geopolitical tensions occasionally spill into its stadiums. How the league and CF Montréal choose to respond — and whether specific individuals face consequences — will likely be closely watched by supporters, players and clubs across the competition.
As of Monday, no timeline had been given for when the investigation might conclude or what punishments, if any, could follow.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.