Arsenal pub in ‘Yids’ graffiti incident ahead of north London derby clash with Spurs
‘THFC’ and ‘YIDS’ was sprayed over the Two Brewers pub, close to the Emirates Stadium, in a graffiti attack the night before Sunday's match
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
A pub frequented by Arsenal fans situated just minutes away from the club’s Emirates Stadium was daubed with graffiti including the word “Yids” ahead of the north London derby clash with rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Photographs of the incident outside the Two Brewers pub were posted on social media on Saturday night ahead of the game against Spurs the next afternoon.
Pictures clearly showed that the word “Yids” had been sprayed twice in yellow and in white paint on the front door and on the window of the pub, along with “THFC”.
The Community Security Trust’s Dave Rich later tweeted:”Daubing ‘YIDS’ like this is antisemitic.
“It’s the same graffiti my grandparents had to put up with from Mosley’s fascists and the idea that Spurs fans are ‘reclaiming’ it is nonsense. It has to stop.”
Spurs, under chairman Daniel Levy, have come under increased pressure to take further steps to educate the club’s supporters on the antisemitic history of the term “Yids.”
Wishing all our fans observing Yom Kippur a peaceful and meaningful fast ???? pic.twitter.com/k3kEGnATMW
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 24, 2023
But messages placed in the match day programme, and on the club’s website, have been ignored by a substantial number of Spurs fans, who continue to use the “Y word” in chants throughout matches.
Both Spurs and Arsenal fans posted messages on social media condemning the graffiti incident.
The daubing were cleaned off of the pub’s front prior to the match kick-off at 2pm on Sunday.
We'd like to wish all Gooners observing Yom Kippur around the world a Gmar Chatima Tova ❤️ pic.twitter.com/uuL2qlMlK0
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 24, 2023
An exciting game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Israeli player Marlon Solomon coming on a substitute for Spurs.
Both north London clubs have large Jewish support, and both had placed messages on social media ahead of Yom Kippur wishing fans well over the fast.
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