Spurs face demand for further action over vile Y-word chants by fans
During TV coverage of Spurs north London derby clash with Arsenal loud chants of "Yid army" and "Yids" were clearly audible throughout the the match.
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club are facing renewed calls to take tougher action on fans using Y-word chants inside their north London stadium during games.
One senior football official at another Premiership club told Jewish News they believed Spurs chairman was no doing enough to tackle the issue for fear of further alienating supporters who continue to use the Y-word in numerous songs.
During television coverage of the club’s north London derby clash with Arsenal loud chants of “Yid army” and “Yids” were clearly audible throughout the first half of the match.
Lord John Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, urged Spurs fan group’s to “get behind the club’s demand that the Y-word be ushered out.”
The peer added: “A good starting point would be to get rid of some of the worst songs, which with today’s technology and excess demand for tickets is eminently doable.”
As Jewish News reported, two female Arsenal fans, one of who is Jewish, were confronted by a group of males after they complained about Gunners fans using derogatory “Yiddo” chants inside a pub showing live coverage of the game
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust said:”This horrendous incident is another reminder that antisemitism in football is still a problem that needs addressing.
“It is no coincidence that the racists who abused these women in this pub used the Y-word to do it and part of tackling antisemitism in football has to involve getting rid of the racist term from our game.”
Spurs launched a campaign urging fans it was “time to move on” from using the Y-word in February 2022, with an announcement on the club’s website and messaging in the official matchday programme.
The campaign, launched with the support of Lord Mann, was immediately welcomed, but some now accuse Spurs of failing to continue with a programme of educating fans on the issue.
But a Spurs spokesperson defended the club’s record on the issue telling Jewish News:”We have made our position clear to fans that we believe it is time to move on with associating this term with our Club.
“Since making this statement, we launched our onlineWhY Word hubwhich is permanently available to fans for further reading around the topic, with informed media articles and fan views.
“Every home matchday programme, meanwhile, includes a graphic with a direct quote from a supporter, encouraging fellow fans to reconsider their use of the term. We have always said we shall keep our approach to this matter under review and will continue to raise this with our fanbase.”
Meanwhile, last weekend, on a train taking West Ham supporters to their away game against Wolves, passengers reported hearing openly antisemitic songs being sung by groups of males.
One passenger, who contacted Jewish News, described the songs being sung as “sickening”.
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