England football fans’ group investigated over alleged ‘antisemitism’
Jewish fan angered after England supporter allegedly condemned UK government attempts to ban Hamas in supporters WhatsApp group as 'PC gone mad'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Online posts made by a member of an England football fans’ group are the subject of an FA investigation into claims of alleged antisemitism.
The probe reportedly involves comments made in relation to attempts by the UK government to fully proscribe the Islamic terror group Hamas.
A member of the Block 109 group, set up by supporters who sit in the same section at matches, and who is also a member of the official England Supporters’ TravelClub, is being investigated by the FA over comments made to a Jewish supporter.
It is claimed the supporter at the centre of the probe had posted on the Block 109 WhatsApp group that the Hamas ban was “PC gone mad.”
When another 109 group member, who is Jewish, queried an apparent attempt to excuse the group’s activities he received the reply: “Spot on”.
The Times reported the Jewish fan replied: “If you agree with that not only are you an antisemite but you are a supporter of Islamo-fascism.”
The other England fan responded: “I’ve been upgraded. Get in.”
In a statement released to The Times Block 109 group claimed “there were no references to Hamas as part of these messages”.
They also said the exchange was “reviewed extensively with representatives of the Football Supporters’ Association, Kick It Out and Love Football Hate Racism”, separately providing guidance they received from the latter stating that the messages were not antisemitic.
But Kick It Out said that it offered no such guidance.
“We received a report last year around this case and it was passed to the FA to deal with and decide on the appropriate sanctions for the individuals concerned,” Kick It Out added.
Both the anti-discrimination group and FA investigators were reportedly unaware of the exchange now made public at that time.
Some Block 109 members – although not the fan under investigation – have been paid by Qatar to attend the World Cup.
England Block 109 supporters sit together in a section of the east stand at Wembley. Earlier posts included the use of a racial stereotype mocking Rishi Sunak, are already being investigated by the FA.
Jewish News has contacted the FA for comment.
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.
