Chelsea bans fan for 10 years over antisemitic messages sent to journalist
Sam Mole, who was given a three-year restraining order for messages sent to Jewish journalist Dan Levene, won't be allowed into Stamford Bridge for a decade.
Jack Mendel is the former Online Editor at the Jewish News.
Chelsea Football Club has banned one of its supporters for 10 years, after he sent abusive antisemitic messages sent to a Jewish journalist.
Sam Mole, who was issued with a three-year restraining order in February, sent antisemitic and homophobic messages to Dan Levene, including one wishing he would die and lamenting that he had not be murdered in the Holocaust.
The perpetrator was however allowed to walk free from court in February, because he was on holiday in Australia at the time of the offence, and outside the jurisdiction of the law.
Following an internal investigation, Chelsea issued a statement saying it “has taken the decision to ban the individual from Chelsea FC for a period of 10 years.”
Everybody at Chelsea is proud to be part of a diverse club. Our players, staff, fans and visitors to the club come from a wide range of backgrounds, including the Jewish community, and we want to ensure everyone feels safe, valued and included. We will not tolerate any behaviour from supporters that threatens that aim.”
The club, which will participate in a social media boycott starting on Friday to protest racism online, said: “In sport, as in wider society, we must create a social media environment where hateful and discriminatory actions are as unacceptable online as they would be on the street.”
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Chelsea should be applauded for banning an abusive troll for ten years. This announcement sends a powerful message that antisemitism in football and online must not be tolerated. Football clubs walking out of social media over online hate is one thing, but backing it up with strong action like this is the strongest antidote.”
The trainee teacher from Kettering, who reportedly expressed remorse, was given restraining order, prohibiting him from contacting Dan Levene.
In January 2018, Chelsea Football Club launched its ‘Say No To Antisemitism’ campaign, raising awareness about racism in sport.
*Warning: The screenshots contain of antisemitic abuse and offensive language.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
