Robbie Keane’s wife has revealed the family feel “at risk” after a series of “threatening” messages and comments about his management of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv last season.
Keane, his wife Claudine and their two children live in Ireland, but the former striker came under attack after presenting his caps to the national team this week.
Last week, some Maccabi fans tore down Palestinian flags and chanted anti-Arab slogans on a visit to Amsterdam, before hundreds of their own fans were ambushed and attacked in the streets after the Europa League match against Ajax.
The violence, condemned by Dutch and Israeli officials as anti-Semitic, has led to the arrest of at least 67 people and Israel sent six rescue planes to evacuate fans. For many on both sides, it represented a microcosm of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
This inflamed a toxic response on social media and Keane, who left Maccabi in June, was branded a ‘****’, ‘blood money Robbie’ and a ‘Zionist rat’ online as he presented his caps to the Irish stars.
Robbie Keane’s wife Claudine has said her family feels “at risk” after “threatening” messages
Keane has been the subject of abusive comments this week after handing his caps to Republic of Ireland stars after managing Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv last season.
Claudine says she feels ‘intimidated’ by people who are ‘inciting hatred’ against her husband
“I would just like to remind a small group of people that my family, my children and I live in Ireland, that this is our home,” Claudine Keane wrote in X.
‘I feel extremely uncomfortable and sometimes intimidated by some messages from a small group that are hurtful, threatening and dangerous.
“Not only are they truly putting our safety and well-being as a family at risk, but they are also using an athlete as a political pawn and, in doing so, inciting hatred with absolutely outrageous accusations.
‘I always felt safe in Ireland until now. I always wanted to move home, bring my children here and enjoy the Ireland that both me and my husband love.
“They are taking away all the enjoyment and security from me and my family. “We love our country, we are not politicians, we have never done anything wrong.”
Keane won the Israeli Premier League and the Toto Cup (equivalent to the League Cup) in his only season in Tel Aviv. He also took them to the round of 16 of the Europa Conference League, the furthest Maccabi had been in a continental competition. Keane joined on June 26, 2023 and left on June 7 this year.
He had to flee Israel after the October 7 massacre and evacuated to Israel through Greece. Tel Aviv was one of the cities that came under rocket attack that month as part of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Keane and his staff worked remotely while the Israeli league was suspended before returning in early December.
Keane has received a lot of abuse on social media this week, after Maccabi fans pulled down Palestinian flags and were attacked en masse in Amsterdam.
Keane won the Israeli Premier League and the Toto Cup with Maccabi before leaving in June.
After just one season in charge, Keane requested that his option to extend his contract for a second year not be exercised.
“It has been a difficult decision for me to leave Maccabi Tel Aviv FC,” Keane said in a statement in June. ‘I would like to thank the owner, all the players, coaches and fans for making this an unforgettable season.
“I am very proud of everything we have achieved together as a team and very proud of the hard work and dedication that resulted in winning the Championship and the Toto Cup.
“I wish everyone involved at the club the best for the Champions League and next season.”