The Premier League adopts the IHRA definition of antisemitism
Jewish leaders and antisemitism experts welcome the 'very important' move backed by all top clubs apart from Sheffield United
The Premier League has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in what Jewish leaders and antisemitism experts described as a “very important” move.
England’s foremost football league was credited by the Government’s antisemitism advisor Lord Mann and Jewish Leadership Council chair Jonathan Goldstein as the news was announced on Thursday morning.
The vast majority of Premier League clubs – including Tottenham Hotspur – also signed up to the IHRA definition, with the exception of Sheffield United. Spurs is a focus point because its fans affectionately call themselves the ‘Yid Army’, a term some Jewish groups say is offensive.
In a statement, a club spokesman said: “As a club, we have worked within the guidelines of the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism for many years and it is a key part of our steward training. Moving forward, we shall formally adopt this working definition across all our operations.”
Representatives of the Jewish community in Leeds paid tribute to the city’s club for signing up, while Newcastle United said it was planning to use its adoption of the IHRA definition “to build engagement with the local Jewish community”, starting with the next Holocaust Memorial Day.
Bill Bush, executive director of the Premier League, said the move would “enable us to be more effective in dealing with any antisemitic behaviour targeting our clubs or personnel… It is the latest step in our continued work to ensure that football is a welcoming environment for all”.
Mann said the adoption “will be rightly heralded by the footballing community and clubs worldwide… I congratulate the Premier Leader for setting the global standard”.
Goldstein said: “In a year when football is rightly tackling racism, this commitment to understand and combat anti-Jewish racism ensures we all play our part.”
Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies fo British Jews said: “We thank the Premier League and its clubs for adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism. The ugliness of antisemitism has no place in the beautiful game. Our gratitude also goes to Lord John Mann for his indefatigable work towards this tremendous outcome.”
Karen PollocK, Chief Executive, Holocaust Educational Trust called it “excellent news”, saying “no racism is acceptable in society and that includes on the football pitch.”
She said adopting IHRA “sends a strong and clear message that there is zero tolerance for anti-Jewish racism on our grounds and on our terraces.
“We are proud that after so many years working with leading football clubs educating about the Holocaust and where hate can lead, that we can build on this positive step together.
Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on the 27th January next year, we join the call to those clubs who have not yet signed up, and those in other leagues, to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism”
Sanjay Bhandari from Kick It Out, a group focused on tackling racism in sport, said: “It’s very important because the Premier League is a massive global brand. It’s setting an example. We’re calling on the whole of football to follow their lead.”
Mann, who chaired the Football Association’s taskforce on Islamophobia and antisemitism, agreed that the league’s profile was key. “The reach of the Premier League clubs is far greater than that of Donald Trump,” he said.
“The key use of this definition is for things that do not meet the criminal threshold. It will help stewards know what is and isn’t antisemitic and when to have a word [for fans]. This can include things like insignia.”
He also praised Chelsea Football Club, owned by Jewish billionaire Roman Abramovich, for taking a lead on tackling antisemitism. “Chelsea have been challenging their supporter base with success,” he said.
Martin Berliner, the outgoing chair of Maccabi GB, welcomed the news. “It has taken two decades to get to this point,” he said. “We have had to try to explain why certain comments are antisemitic. Now we have a guiding light.”
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.
- News
- Sheffield United
- International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism
- Premier League
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Lord Mann
- Jonathan Goldstein
- Sanjay Bhandari
- Football Association’s taskforce on Islamophobia and antisemitism
- Chelsea Football Club
- Martin Berliner
- Arsenal
- Aston Villa
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Burnley
- Chelsea
- Crystal Palace
- Everton
- Fulham
- Leeds United
- Leicester City
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Newcastle United
- Southampton
- West Bromwich Albion
- West Ham United
- Wolverhampton Wanderers