Omeonga

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Omeonga posting that he was dragged off a plane and beaten by police.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEPPkWWCyaS/?igsh=dDkzNnJzMTFvamc1

[WeAreHibs]

Omeonga posting that he was dragged off a plane and beaten by police.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEPPkWWCyaS/?igsh=dDkzNnJzMTFvamc1

That's disgusting

[worcesterhibby]

Always seemed like a very nice guy when with us. I see he is playing for an “Israeli-Arab” team in Israel now. Can’t be a very easy place to ply your trade at the moment! I seem to remember he was quite a devout Christian.. playing for a “Muslim” team inside Israel…while they are at war with half the Arab world. Makes Old Firm nonsense seem tame!

[The Spaceman]

Always came across as a lovely bloke when he was with us, hope whoever caused this brought to some form of justice, assuming Omeonga not at fault to a rational observer.

[tonyrougier123]

Frightening someone as nice as Stephane omeonga could end up in that surreal situation. Hope he’s ok. Playing in that part of the world must come with a few pitfalls.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Frightening someone as nice as Stephane omeonga could end up in that surreal situation. Hope he’s ok. Playing in that part of the world must come with a few pitfalls.

It seems like this happened in Italy? Or at least that’s what I took from it?

[Roxyhibee]

Absolutely no excuse for a so called modern European country to act so appallingly, but I’m not surprised at Italian authorities behaving this way tbh. Hope Omeonga takes them as far as he can, but wouldn’t hold out hope of any acknowledgment of an apology or justice from that mob.

[Bristolhibby]

It seems like this happened in Italy? Or at least that’s what I took from it?

That’s what I took from the video. Italian cops being ********s.

Never heard of that before.

J

[Bristolhibby]

Absolutely no excuse for a so called modern European country to act so appallingly, but I’m not surprised at Italian authorities behaving this way tbh. Hope Omeonga takes them as far as he can, but wouldn’t hold out hope of any acknowledgment of an apology or justice from that mob.

Especially as they are trying to stitch him up with an “assault” charge too.

Fascist boot boys.

J

[Pretty Boy]

A genuinely great guy.

I don't believe for a second he has done anything to deserve treatment like that.

[Ribs1875]

Omeonga is a nice lad, always came across polite in interviews and not a dirty player either. To see those actions taking to someone who is an honest and talented lad by the Italian police is sickening. That said, nothing surprises me with the Italian police. When I was in Milan in the summer I seen a badly handled situation at the airport that was poorly managed by them. Nothing will get done either because it's such a corrupt country.

I hope Omeonga keeps his faith in humanity.

[Unseen work]

Horrible video to watch

Hope Omeonga is alright

[H18 SFR]

I was in Rome/Bari for a Scotland game and there were some Arab ethnicity immigrants in the vicinity, the Police were trying to move them on away from where the Scotland fans were and it ended with a cop striking a female in the chest with the butt of an automatic rifle - absolutely ended the girl who was ultimately dragged away by her hysterical friends. Just pure nastiness.

[Jamesie]

I’m a great believer in hearing both sides of any story, so I look forward to the polizia response.

Out of interest, why is Omeonga speaking to them in English in the video? He played in Italy for five years, so I’d expect him to be able to communicate to at least some degree in Italian?

[Jamesie]

https://youtu.be/s9vtQD7rIjo?si=VKmHqXiWop-YSkw-

His Italian is pretty good, FWIW.

[PHeffernan]

Looks like a story and a video that is conveniently missing essential parts.
Stephane has been required by an airline steward to leave the plane for some reason.
He has refused and as a result the airport Police have been summoned to require him to leave the plane and if he refuses physically remove him.
They are not there to resolve or discuss his issue with the airline.
On arrival they will have required him to leave the plane and I presume he has refused so they have physically removed him. Straight forward.
There is no discrimination unless there is something else he hasn't told us.
He should have left the plane when required to by the air steward and argued the toss with the airline in the airport instead of delaying the plane which won't be tolerated.

[CallumLaidlaw]

Looks like a story and a video that is conveniently missing essential parts.
Stephane has been required by an airline steward to leave the plane for some reason.
He has refused and as a result the airport Police have been summoned to require him to leave the plane and physically remove him if he refuses.
On arrival they will have required him to leave the plane and I presume he has refused so they have physically removed him from the plane. Straight forward.
There is no discrimination unless there is something else he has not told us. All we hear is him telling them he is a footballer and a Belgian citizen.
He should have left the plane when required to by the air steward.

Have you read his full breakdown of the situation?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241231/26b62f0c467d19a3d07071dd09352649.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Keith_M]

What Omeonga posted

"On December 25th, I was a victim of police brutality.

During a flight between Rome and Tel Aviv, after boarding the plane and taking my seat, a steward approached me about an alleged issue with my documents and asked me to leave the aircraft. Confident in the validity of my documents, I calmly asked him what kind of issue.

The police were called, and I was handcuffed and forcibly removed from the plane. Once outside the aircraft, away from the view of witnesses, the police violently threw me to the ground, beat me, and one of them pressed his knee against my head.

I was then taken in a police vehicle, handcuffed like a criminal, to the airport. An ambulance arrived, but in a state of shock, I was unable to respond to the paramedics’ questions. Shortly after, I heard over the police car’s radio, ‘He refused medical care; everything is fine.’ This was completely false, I asked them to take me in the ambulance with them scared to what the police could do to me.

Next, I was placed in a grey room, without food or water, and left in a state of total humiliation for several hours. Upon my release, I learned that a police officer had filed a complaint against me for injuries allegedly caused during the arrest, even though I was handcuffed. Furthermore, to this day, I have not received any justification for my arrest.

As a human being and a father, I cannot tolerate any form of discrimination. This arrest is just the visible tip of the iceberg. Many people who look like me cannot find work, have no access to housing, or cannot participate in the sports they love, simply because they are Black.

We must stand united and raise our voices to educate those around us—our colleagues, neighbors, and friends—about this issue that plagues our society and hinders its progress."



EDIT: Sorry, Callum, just noticed you'd already posted

[Frazerbob]

I’m a great believer in hearing both sides of any story, so I look forward to the polizia response.

Out of interest, why is Omeonga speaking to them in English in the video? He played in Italy for five years, so I’d expect him to be able to communicate to at least some degree in Italian?

Maybe whilst being assaulted and dragged off a plane in front of dozens of strangers his mind wasn't up to translating into Italian, probably at the very least his third language.

[PHeffernan]

Have you read his full breakdown of the situation?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20241231/26b62f0c467d19a3d07071dd09352649.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I read it in full before posting.
He should have left the plane when required to by the air steward and argued with the airline and security in the airport.
I met Stephane and liked him and i'm sure all was in order with his documentation.

This flight was to Tel Aviv and therefore ultra sensitive. I reckon something has come up at security after Stephane has entered the plane and OIC Police has made an on the spot decision not to allow Stephane to fly until they resolve something he/she was not totally happy with.
The air steward will have had to make up a story to get him to leave the plane and he has refused because he knows everything in his documents is in order.

[JimBHibees]

I read it in full before posting.
He should have left the plane when required to by the air steward and argued with the airline in the airport instead of delaying the plane which won't be tolerated.

None of that justifies the treatment he received

[Jamesie]

Maybe whilst being assaulted and dragged off a plane in front of dozens of strangers his mind wasn't up to translating into Italian, probably at the very least his third language.

I’d like to see a video of the incident in its entirety, or at least the account of the polizia /airline, rather than just the snippet posted on twitter before reaching any conclusion.

[PHeffernan]

None of that justifies the treatment he received

All you have seen is footage of Stephane being physically removed from the plane which is what would happen to all of us if we refused to leave a plane after being required to do so

[PHeffernan]

None of that justifies the treatment he received

I think there is a big picture here that you are not seeing relating to the conflict in Israel.
The flight was to Tel Aviv. The key to this incident lies with that, the airline steward saying there was something wrong with his documents is a red herring hence him not being happy. Someone in security/Police has been told at the last minute to take him off the flight and the air steward was trying to be low key about it.

[JohnM1875]

I think there is a big picture here that you are not seeing relating to the conflict in Israel.
The flight was to Tel Aviv. The key to this incident lies with that, the airline steward saying there was something wrong with his documents is a red herring.

What are you on about?

[Rumble de Thump]

I think there is a big picture here that you are not seeing relating to the conflict in Israel.
The flight was to Tel Aviv. The key to this incident lies with that, the airline steward saying there was something wrong with his documents is a red herring hence him not being happy. Someone in security/Police has been told at the last minute to take him off the flight and the air steward was them trying to be low key about it.

It's worth keeping in mind that what you are saying is just fantasy on your part.

[PHeffernan]

What are you on about?

This flight was to Tel Aviv and therefore ultra sensitive at this time of the current bloody conflict.
I reckon after Stephane has entered the plane a high ranking Police officer has made an on the spot decision not to allow Stephane to fly until they resolve something he/she was not totally happy with.
The air steward has been informed and has then made up a story to get Omeonga to leave the plane and he has refused because as an experienced traveller he knows everything is in order with his documents.
The incident then unfolds as described.

Stephane currently plays for Arab-Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin.

[Nakedmanoncrack]

This flight was to Tel Aviv and therefore ultra sensitive at this time of the current bloody conflict.
I reckon after Stephane has entered the plane a high ranking Police officer has made an on the spot decision not to allow Stephane to fly until they resolve something he/she was not totally happy with.
The air steward has been informed and has then made up a story to get Omeonga to leave the plane and he has refused because as an experienced traveller he knows everything is in order with his documents.
The incident then unfolds as described.

Stephane currently plays for Arab-Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin.

Its an interesting theory, one you have entirely made up though - unless you have some inside knowledge.

[PHeffernan]

It's worth keeping in mind that what you are saying is just fantasy on your part.

It makes no sense that Omeonga passed through all the airport security and ticket systems and took his seat on a flight to Tel Aviv if there was something wrong with his 'documents".
That wouldn't happen.
Someone in airport Police security has been instructed from above at the last minute to have Omeonga removed from the flight.
What's your explanation?

[gbhibby]

This flight was to Tel Aviv and therefore ultra sensitive at this time of the current bloody conflict.
I reckon after Stephane has entered the plane a high ranking Police officer has made an on the spot decision not to allow Stephane to fly until they resolve something he/she was not totally happy with.
The air steward has been informed and has then made up a story to get Omeonga to leave the plane and he has refused because as an experienced traveller he knows everything is in order with his documents.
The incident then unfolds as described.

Stephane currently plays for Arab-Israeli club Bnei Sakhnin.
Surely there was enough time between him presenting documents at the check in desk, then going through boarding for any issue to be raised and resolved. Not buying the on the spot decision as there are a number of security people at airports to deal with document issues and announcements are are able to be made at airports asking people to report to a desk or an area. Or was it because he was black.

[Jamesie]

Surely there was enough time between him presenting documents at the check in desk, then going through boarding for any issue to be raised and resolved. Not buying the on the spot decision as there are a number of security people at airports to deal with document issues and announcements are are able to be made at airports asking people to report to a desk or an area.

The bottom line is that we have nothing other to go on here than a 15 second video - when we have no idea how long the dialogue had been going on for prior to the video being recorded, and what had / had not been said.

The upshot for me is that once a decision has been made - be it by the aircraft Captain or immigration / security authorities in the country of departure / receiving state - then you ain’t flying. Nothing you can say whilst onboard will change that, and the sensible option is to co-operate and plead your case in the terminal.

[PHeffernan]

Its an interesting theory, one you have entirely made up though - unless you have some inside knowledge.

As I say above, it makes no sense that Omeonga passed through all the airport security and ticket system checks and took his seat on a flight to Tel Aviv in 2024 if there was something wrong with his 'documents". That wouldn't happen.
Hence my theory based on what we currently know.
I have no inside knowledge on this specific incident.

[JohnM1875]

The bottom line is that we have nothing other to go on here than a 15 second video - when we have no idea how long the dialogue had been going on for prior to the video being recorded, and what had / had not been said.

The upshot for me is that once a decision has been made - be it by the aircraft Captain or immigration / security authorities in the country of departure / receiving state - then you ain’t flying. Nothing you can say whilst onboard will change that, and the sensible option is to co-operate and plead your case in the terminal.

What more evidence are you hoping for here? What do you think has happened that we've not seen?

Italy, hardly renowned for it's acceptance of ethic minorities.

[gbhibby]

The bottom line is that we have nothing other to go on here than a 15 second video - when we have no idea how long the dialogue had been going on for prior to the video being recorded, and what had / had not been said.

The upshot for me is that once a decision has been made - be it by the aircraft Captain or immigration / security authorities in the country of departure / receiving state - then you ain’t flying. Nothing you can say whilst onboard will change that, and the sensible option is to co-operate and plead your case in the terminal.
I have boarded an aircraft in the past and seen security personnel stop people just before boarding to check something. We don't know the full story here but a quick check of documents and visa could have resolved the situation before boarding.

[Nakedmanoncrack]

As I say above, it makes no sense that Omeonga passed through all the airport security and ticket system checks and took his seat on a flight to Tel Aviv if there was something wrong with his 'documents".
That wouldn't happen. Hence my theory.
I have no inside knowledge on this specific incident.

We'll need to wait & see, though again without any inside knowledge of this particular flight, it won't be a surprise if the flight destination/forces have some bearing on what occurred.

[Jamesie]

What more evidence are you hoping for here? What do you think has happened that we've not seen?

Italy, hardly renowned for it's acceptance of ethic minorities.

I have no idea what may have been discussed or occurred that we haven’t seen. But I would be surprised if two polizia simply sought to physically remove anyone from an aircraft without having requested that the person leave the aircraft of their own volition.

One thing I’ve detected on this thread - you don’t have to scratch too far below the surface in this country before some good old fashioned EyeTie-bashing re-emerges when the chance presents itself.

[JohnM1875]

I have no idea what may have been discussed or occurred that we haven’t seen. But I would be surprised if two polizia simply sought to physically remove anyone from an aircraft without having requested that the person leave the aircraft of their own volition.

One thing I’ve detected on this thread - you don’t have to scratch too far below the surface in this country before some good old fashioned EyeTie-bashing re-emerges when the chance presents itself.

Been to Italy a few times and absolutely love the place and in general the people, they also love us Scots.

But I don't think it's a stretch to say they have a massive racism issue when it comes to football.

[PHeffernan]

Surely there was enough time between him presenting documents at the check in desk, then going through boarding for any issue to be raised and resolved. Not buying the on the spot decision as there are a number of security people at airports to deal with document issues and announcements are are able to be made at airports asking people to report to a desk or an area. Or was it because he was black.

Exactly, documents are a red herring. They must have been totally happy with them to let him board.
A 10 second google by security would show a Belgian national playing for an Israeli football club for the last 18 months along with a load of photographs. The guy that presented in front of them with his passport is the same guy in the online photo's.
As for taking him of the plane because he is black. That's insane. There has to be a credible reason and whoever authorised his removal will have to justify it especially in the light of subsequent events.

[PHeffernan]

Been to Italy a few times and absolutely love the place and in general the people, they also love us Scots.

But I don't think it's a stretch to say they have a massive racism issue when it comes to football.

So do we when it comes to football

Why does football attract so many of a countries male thicko's as supporters?
A question foranother day.

[JohnM1875]

So do we when it comes to football

Aye, fair point. World football as a whole probably struggles with it.

[PHeffernan]

We'll need to wait & see, though again without any inside knowledge of this particular flight, it won't be a surprise if the flight destination/forces have some bearing on what occurred.

Agreed

[gbhibby]

Exactly, documents are a red herring. They must have been totally happy with them to let him board.
A 10 second google by security would show a Belgian national playing for an Israeli football club for the last 18 months along with a load of photographs. The guy that presented in front of them with his passport is the same guy in the online photo's.
As for taking him of the plane because he is black. That's insane. There has to be a credible reason and whoever authorised his removal will have to justify it especially in the light of subsequent events.
I was asking the question about race, would he have been treated the same way if he was a white Belgian just putting it out there.

[PHeffernan]

I was asking the question about race, would he have been treated the same way if he was a white Belgian just putting it out there.

If he was white Belgian and they wanted him off the plane it would have gone down the same.
The bit we don't definitively know is why they suddenly wanted Omeonga off the plane after allowing him to board.

Is it possible Israeli intelligence services have requested their Italian counterpart to remove Omeonga from the flight at the last minute?

[Frazerbob]

i have no idea what may have been discussed or occurred that we haven’t seen. But i would be surprised if two polizia simply sought to physically remove anyone from an aircraft without having requested that the person leave the aircraft of their own volition.

one thing i’ve detected on this thread - you don’t have to scratch too far below the surface in this country before some good old fashioned eyetie-bashing re-emerges when the chance presents itself.

wtf

[JimBHibees]

I have no idea what may have been discussed or occurred that we haven’t seen. But I would be surprised if two polizia simply sought to physically remove anyone from an aircraft without having requested that the person leave the aircraft of their own volition.

One thing I’ve detected on this thread - you don’t have to scratch too far below the surface in this country before some good old fashioned EyeTie-bashing re-emerges when the chance presents itself.

Don’t see that at all to be honest

[DH1875]

I've got a good mate who is Ghanaian. His family moved to Milan when he was a teenager and he lived there for 9 years before spending a year in Helsinki and a year in London before moving here. He says the racism in Italy is off the chart and very little opportunities if your black. Said there were loads of places he couldn't go and if he did he'd be attacked. He said the TV, media, press is all anti black and white families wouldn't allow their kids to mix with him when growing up. If a black guy dated a white girl they be beaten up.

On the flip side he laughs about the racism in Scotland. He has been here 6 years and says it's pretty much non existent. He has a good job, has got married, had a baby boy and loves it here. He says if people think Scotland is racist they should spend a couple of weeks in Italy and see what racism is really like.

The being said, I don't think two cops can just wonder onto a plane and kick you off without someone giving them a reason or telling them to do it.

[HoboHarry]

I've got a good mate who is Ghanaian. His family moved to Milan when he was a teenager and he lived there for 9 years before spending a year in Helsinki and a year in London before moving here. He says the racism in Italy is off the chart and very little opportunities if your black. Said there were loads of places he couldn't go and if he did he'd be attacked. He said the TV, media, press is all anti black and white families wouldn't allow their kids to mix with him when growing up. If a black guy dated a white girl they be beaten up.

On the flip side he laughs about the racism in Scotland. He has been here 6 years and says it's pretty much non existent. He has a good job, has got married, had a baby boy and loves it here. He says if people think Scotland is racist they should spend a couple of weeks in Italy and see what racism is really like.

The being said, I don't think two cops can just wonder onto a plane and kick you off without someone giving them a reason or telling them to do it.
Is he an Asante Kotoko fan or a Hearts of Oak fan? 😀

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

wtf

Mental eh?

[Gettin' Auld]

If he was white Belgian and they wanted him off the plane it would have gone down the same.
The bit we don't definitively know is why they suddenly wanted Omeonga off the plane after allowing him to board.

Is it possible Israeli intelligence services have requested their Italian counterpart to remove Omeonga from the flight at the last minute?
That's how i'm reading things. All has been well at the Italian end, so he was allowed to board the flight and the details passed onto Israel. Because of what's happening at the moment, the Israelis are twitchy and for some reason put a marker against Omeonga (or his documentation) and said he had to be removed from the flight or they'd send him straight back, and it's the airline that pays for that.

[hibsbollah]

Well here’s hoping he’s OK. That sounds really grim, was a really good contributor for us for a short while and seemed a good guy as well.

[Bristolhibby]

That's how i'm reading things. All has been well at the Italian end, so he was allowed to board the flight and the details passed onto Israel. Because of what's happening at the moment, the Israelis are twitchy and for some reason put a marker against Omeonga (or his documentation) and said he had to be removed from the flight or they'd send him straight back, and it's the airline that pays for that.

A bit of good ole fashioned Israeli racism.

Who’d have thought it? A regime that is to its core racist and segregationist.

Especially if he’s playing for an Arab team.

Makes sense.

Ought to have his bumps felt playing for an Israeli team in the first place!

J

[Jamesie]

https://tg24.sky.it/sport/2025/01/01/stephane-omeonga-israele

Italian authorities have indicated that Omeonga was on an Israel “black list” and he was removed from the aircraft at the request of the Captain / airport manager after a discussion that lasted for circa 40 minutes.

[hibsbollah]

https://tg24.sky.it/sport/2025/01/01/stephane-omeonga-israele

Italian authorities have indicated that Omeonga was on an Israel “black list” and he was removed from the aircraft at the request of the Captain / airport manager after a discussion that lasted for circa 40 minutes.

Him being on an Israeli blacklist isn’t relevant to the substance of Omeongas complaint, which was about him being beaten by Italian police, the police then lying that he had assaulted THEM, and his allegation that race was a factor.

[Viva_Palmeiras]

https://tg24.sky.it/sport/2025/01/01/stephane-omeonga-israele

Italian authorities have indicated that Omeonga was on an Israel “black list” and he was removed from the aircraft at the request of the Captain / airport manager after a discussion that lasted for circa 40 minutes.

Would have thought blacklists would kick in before checkin ?
Bit late and disruptive in a confined space but maybe not maybe easier to extract. maybe easier to get police in attendance.

[worcesterhibby]

Two (three?) wrongs don’t make a right.

Wrong one- if airplane staff ask you politely to leave the aircraft, you ask them why, but when they are insistent, you comply. Stephane decided not to..in my opinion he was wrong to refuse.

Wrong - if the police are called to remove you from an aircraft, I would suggest now is the time to comply sensibly, even if you have refused to do so to the aircraft staff. Once again Stephane decides to argue the toss instead( in English). What are the Police expected to do other than forcibly remove him ?

wrong- if Stephane is to be believed ( and in our limited knowledge of him he seems to be a polite, likeable guy) he was assaulted by the Police. Pathetic.

in this instance he does seem to have made some pretty poor decisions though, he’s certainly not being passive about being removed from the plane. If you are on a flight to a country at War and are asked by airport security police to leave an aircraft, I would suggest you might be best to do it calmly and sensibly.. not refuse and shout in a foreign language. None of us knows what happened outside the aircraft. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the Italian Police were heavy handed at best.. and that’s not even necessarily racism.. you start shouting, refusing to leave and wrestling with police in an airport and it doesn’t matter what your colour, they are likely to give you a whack.

I hope he’s ok and I hope he’s a bit more sensible next time he flies.

[Suburban Hibby]

Does Omeonga just decide it’s a Race/ Black issue,or was he racially abused. Justifying his complaint?