Lifetime ban for antisemitic Chelsea fan who called Jews ‘vermin’

A Chelsea fan who referred to Jews as “Yids” and “vermin” in a lengthy series of racist social media posts has been handed a lifetime ban by Chelsea Football Club.

Kerry Hardwell, 35, from Bognor, was reported to Sussex Police last August, after fellow Chelsea supporter, Dan Levene, uncovered more than 50 antisemitic tweets published from Hardwell’s account, including posts that referred to Jews as “vermin” and “parasites”.

Hardwell pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on July 25 to three charges of sending communications with offensive messages and one charge of sending an offensive message by a public communication network.

The tweets were sent over a ten-year period from 2012 to 2022.

Levene, a freelance sports journalist writing for publications including the sports site The Athletic, submitted a witness statement, which was read out in court.

He said:”“The ‘Y-word’ is three letters that are often thrown away by people who may claim they don’t fully appreciate their collective meaning; with some football fans among that number.

“But everyone, most notably the defendant here, should be aware that it is a racially offensive word – and its use in a pejorative sense, as in this case, is a hate crime. This word, and variants of it, have been used throughout history by extremists to demonise and persecute a minority. My minority. This history is relevant, because it explains the pernicious nature of the word’s usage today.”

Chelsea FC said:”“As soon as Sussex Police made us aware, Mr Hardwell was suspended pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.

“Subsequent to Mr Hardwell’s conviction, we can confirm that he has been issued with a lifetime ban from Chelsea FC. We commend Dan Levene for coming forward. Nobody should have to be subject to the type of disgusting abuse he has had to endure.”

Levene praised the work undertaken by Chelsea in attempting to eradicate anti-Jewish racism. “Antisemitism is on the rise…. but so is knowledge of it: and that is in a large part thanks to the former ownership’s excellent work on this,” he said.

Sussex Police’s dedicated football officer, PC Darren Balkham, said: “The vitriol in the messages were sent in the belief that because the person was behind a keyboard, they wouldn’t be identified. The defendant was wrong, and Harding will now have learned this lesson. There is no place for antisemitic and racist abuse, either in football or in society.”