After Egypt's loss to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup, false claims about the Jewish referee sparked a wave of antisemitism in South Africa. How do such narratives take root in society?

The old claim has always found new hosts: banks, media, governments, wars. Now Jews, or “Zionists,” control the game. The institution changes. The accusation survives.

After Egypt's loss to Argentina in the FIFA World Cup, false claims about the Jewish referee sparked a wave of antisemitism in South Africa. How do such narratives take root in…