A Jewish youth football team has been put under police protection after it said it was attacked by a pro-Palestinian mob armed with sticks and knives during a match in Berlin.

Teenagers from Makkabi Berlin’s youth side say they were “hunted down” by a gang of Arab youths after a game against local rivals last week.

The game was played in Neukölln, a neighbourhood known for its large Arab and Turkish population.

A father of one player said that his son came home “deeply shaken” after being spat at during the game, before being harassed by a group of adults and children who followed the team off the pitch.

The players were all aged between 13 and 16.

Discussing the incident on social media, the father posted a screenshot of a message sent by one of the players that described how they were chased by “Arab youths” who shouted “Free Palestine” and ‘F---ing Jews” before threatening them with knives and sticks.