Forever Pure Trailer (2016)

Trailer for the documentary Forever Pure.

Beitar Jerusalem is the most popular and influential soccer team in Israel. It also happens to be the only one that has never contracted a Muslim player. Forever Pure follows the team over the tumultuous 2012-2013 season. The team’s owner is Arcadi Gaydamak, a wealthy Israeli-Russian with political ambitions and an extremely dubious reputation. Following a successful first few games, Gaydamak causes shockwaves when a secret transfer deal brings two Muslim players from Chechnya onto the team. Both young men have to face racist chants and choruses of whistles from the crowd; the slogans on the banners read “Death to the Arabs” and “Forever Pure.” Initially, the opposition comes from just a small group of radical fans, but one thing leads to another and it spirals into popular revolt and a total boycott. These events have huge consequences for the team – their performance takes a nosedive, there’s disunity among the players and a grim atmosphere in the stadium. This film is testimony to the devastating effects of racism.