Arsenal hosts landmark summit as football leaders unite to confront antisemitism
More than 100 football figures gather for national push to tackle racism
Senior figures from English football came together at Arsenal FC on Thursday for a national symposium on tackling antisemitism in sport, as the game faces growing pressure to strengthen protections for Jewish players, staff and supporters.
The event – delivered in partnership by Maccabi GB and HM Government’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism, Lord Mann – brought more than 100 representatives from clubs, leagues, county FAs, governing bodies and fan networks to the Emirates Stadium for a full-day programme focused on practical action.
Held on the 90th anniversary of the notorious 1935 England-Germany match at White Hart Lane, where the visiting team performed the Nazi salute, organisers said the date served as a stark reminder of football’s historic encounters with antisemitism and the consequences of failing to challenge it.
Attendees examined the current picture of anti-Jewish hate across British sport, the experiences of Jewish professionals and fans, and gaps in clubs’ existing EDI structures. Sessions focused on strengthening reporting routes, embedding antisemitism awareness into organisational frameworks, improving internal communications and ensuring Jewish supporters feel safe and represented inside stadiums.
The conference is part of a national Tackling Antisemitism in Sport programme launched in 2023, which has already trained more than 4,000 professionals across the football pyramid – including all Premier League clubs, 60 EFL sides and 46 county FAs.
Lord Mann said sport had a “unique ability to bring people together” but warned it could also expose prejudices that too often go unchecked. “We are equipping clubs, leagues and governing bodies with the knowledge and confidence they need to identify antisemitism early and tackle it decisively,” he said. “The willingness of football leaders to engage so openly today is not just encouraging – it is essential.”
Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock MP told delegates the Government would continue supporting football bodies and Jewish community organisations as they strengthen their responses to discrimination. “Antisemitism has no place in football or in British society,” she said. “Tackling it strengthens not only Jewish participation in sport, but the integrity and inclusivity of the game as a whole.”
Maccabi GB chief executive Ashley Lerner said the organisation’s century-long work confronting antisemitism framed the day’s discussions. “Bringing people together to learn, share experiences and commit to practical action is how we create a better future for Jewish players, staff and supporters,” he said. “In partnership with Lord Mann’s office, we are determined to ensure that the conversations held today lead to meaningful change across the sporting world.”
One core output will be a new industry toolkit shaped directly by delegates, intended to help clubs integrate antisemitism awareness into EDI strategies, strengthen reporting structures and develop more confident responses when incidents occur. Each attendee pledged to take at least one concrete action back to their organisation.
The initiative marks a significant moment in Maccabi GB’s expanding national role at the intersection of sport, education, and Jewish communal security – and reflects growing recognition across football that tackling antisemitism requires coordinated, long-term commitment well beyond match days.
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