Surprised theres been no mention of this on here.... I thought it would be massive news
Anti semitic chanting from west ham fans
West Ham Fans Cautioned Over
'Hitler' Chant
Anti semitic chanting from west ham fans
West Ham Fans Cautioned Over
'Hitler' Chant
Two supporters accept police cautions, and one is banned by the club, as the FA investigates alleged anti-Semitic taunts.
9:58pm UK, Monday 26 November 2012
Video: West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce says he did not hear the chants
The pair were arrested at the match on Sunday and accepted the cautions, Scotland Yard said.
Two West Ham fans have been cautioned by police over alleged anti-Semitic chants during the club's game at Tottenham.
The pair were arrested at the match on Sunday and accepted the cautions, Scotland Yard said.
One of them was a season ticket holder who has since been banned by the club, which will face an FA investigation over the chants.
West Ham said it had sent the supporter a letter containing a banning order from the club and added: "Any other individuals identified can expect a similar swift and robust response."
Just four days after a Spurs fan was stabbed before Tottenham's game against Lazio, some West Ham fans appeared to aim offensive chants towards the home crowd about the attack.
"Viva Lazio" and "Can we stab you every week" could be heard - and the sound of hissing also came from the away section of White Hart Lane, an apparent mocking of the mass execution of Jews in gas chambers during the Holocaust.
Towards the end of Sunday's match, which Spurs won 3-1, some West Ham supporters were heard singing: "Adolf Hitler, he's coming for you."
The chants during the match were reported to the police by the Society of Black Lawyers.
The pub at the scene of the violence in Rome
In a statement, the FA said: "The FA can confirm it has begun investigating reports of abusive chanting at the Tottenham versus West Ham United fixture.
"The FA governance department has this morning contacted both clubs and will continue to make enquiries into the matter in the coming days.
"We note the statement issued by West Ham and encourage clubs to identify and ban for life any individuals involved in incidents of abusive chanting.
"There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of discrimination in football. The FA is committed to working with the clubs, leagues, fans groups, the police, CPS and community stakeholders to play our part in addressing this unacceptable behaviour."
Tottenham will be submitting video evidence as part of their report to the FA.
A club spokesman said: "We are currently compiling a full report for the Football Association and shall be submitting this with all our evidence including relevant CCTV footage."
Peter Herbert, the chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, said: "As far as we're concerned there has to be zero tolerance of this. If these people can be identified on camera and prosecuted then that is something we'd like to see happen."
At least 11 Spurs fans were injured during violence in Rome, in which 50 masked assailants stormed into a pub in the city, with Essex builder Ashley Mills most seriously hurt.
The president of Italy's football association has apologised to the English FA over the affair, while two men have appeared in court.
==============================================
West Ham chief David Gold warns fans of racial taunts
By Frank KeoghBBC Sport
West Ham's Jewish co-chairman David Gold says the club will have a "zero tolerance" approach to any supporters found to have made anti-Semitic taunts.
Two Hammers fans have accepted a police caution, and one of them has been given a lifetime ban from matches for gestures made at Tottenham on Sunday.
The West Ham chief's great grandfather committed suicide after abusive taunts.
Gold said: "We have a clear stance towards any kind of discriminatory behaviour - it will not be tolerated."
The Football Association has said it will hold an investigation after reports of anti-Semitic taunts during the 3-1 Premier League win for Tottenham, who have strong links with the Jewish community.
Police said the two fans were arrested inside White Hart Lane for racially aggravated public order offences. It is understood they made Nazi-style salutes.
A complaint about abusive chanting has been made to police, who will meet with the complainant before deciding whether to open a formal criminal investigation.
Gold, who took over the east London club with David Sullivan nearly three years ago, said: "David and I are leading an investigation from the top of the club to establish exactly what happened at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
"If we can identify any individuals that have acted inappropriately they will be sought out and banned by the club as part of our zero tolerance policy.
"At the same time we must remember that West Ham United has some of the best fans in the land and we must not let the tens of thousands of supporters that follow our club over land and sea in exactly the right way be overlooked."
It has been reported that a section of the away support sang songs which referenced Adolf Hitler, the German Nazi leader who ordered the mass murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust of the 1930s and 1940s.
Some West Ham fans are also alleged to have taunted the home crowd about the stabbing of Spurs fans in Rome last week.
"As a board we genuinely believe we have some of the best supporters in the country and we will not let a minority of fans, no matter how small, affect the reputation of our great club.
"We are a club that promotes tolerance and inclusion of people from all backgrounds, race and religion. Just a quick look around our boardroom table would tell you that." ("some of my best mates are black")
The 76-year-old's great grandfather was found hanged around the turn of the 20th Century after surviving persecution in Poland but being "driven to despair" by anti-Semitism in England.
"I am very proud of my Jewish heritage and have always been made to feel welcome at West Ham since I started watching them as a young boy back in the 1950s," said Gold.
"That wasn't always the case growing up in the East End and I know first-hand how difficult dealing with prejudice can be, which is why I feel so passionately about promoting inclusion in society today."
Benayoun, 32, who is on loan from Chelsea, said a minority of fans were to blame at Tottenham and that the FA and West Ham would "do everything to find and punish them".
He added on his Twitter page: "I have a great relationship with the West Ham United supporters, from my first spell at the club and again now I am back on loan here.
"This is why I was very disappointed to hear some of the songs and it was embarrassing."
=========
And of course the League of Extraordinary Black Lawyers chairman piped up (taken from F365.com)
The Blame
Still, if you're looking for someone to blame for such anti-Semitic awfulness, then look no further than the Spurs fans themselves.
Peter Herbert, the chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, wrote in The Observer on Sunday:
'The link between the appalling incidents in Rome and the "Y" word chanting is obvious. The chanting of the word simply legitimises anti-Semitic abuse by other fans.'
There you go, Spurs fans. Your fault.
In the same piece, Herbert wrote: 'The Society of Black Lawyers, in seeking to challenge racism in football, has been accused of being "naive", "publicity-seeking", "unhelpful" or out to "get work". Organisations or individuals who speak out on human rights are seldom welcomed by those whose inaction or collusion with racism is challenged.'
If Peter Herbert wishes to refute allegations of publicity-seeking, then might Mediawatch suggest that Peter Herbert tones down the number of shiny photographs of Peter Herbert on Peter Herbert's website, Peter Herbert.net.
Still, as we're criticising him, presumably we're colluding with racism. Stick a white hood on our heads and call us rumbled.
=========================
Theres been a dramatic increase over the last 2 years of racially aggravated instances, is this primarily down to increased media coverage? Or is it down to a more sinister undertone of football that has been dormant for a long time?
West Ham said it had sent the supporter a letter containing a banning order from the club and added: "Any other individuals identified can expect a similar swift and robust response."
Just four days after a Spurs fan was stabbed before Tottenham's game against Lazio, some West Ham fans appeared to aim offensive chants towards the home crowd about the attack.
"Viva Lazio" and "Can we stab you every week" could be heard - and the sound of hissing also came from the away section of White Hart Lane, an apparent mocking of the mass execution of Jews in gas chambers during the Holocaust.
Towards the end of Sunday's match, which Spurs won 3-1, some West Ham supporters were heard singing: "Adolf Hitler, he's coming for you."
The chants during the match were reported to the police by the Society of Black Lawyers.
In a statement, the FA said: "The FA can confirm it has begun investigating reports of abusive chanting at the Tottenham versus West Ham United fixture.
"The FA governance department has this morning contacted both clubs and will continue to make enquiries into the matter in the coming days.
"We note the statement issued by West Ham and encourage clubs to identify and ban for life any individuals involved in incidents of abusive chanting.
"There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of discrimination in football. The FA is committed to working with the clubs, leagues, fans groups, the police, CPS and community stakeholders to play our part in addressing this unacceptable behaviour."
Tottenham will be submitting video evidence as part of their report to the FA.
A club spokesman said: "We are currently compiling a full report for the Football Association and shall be submitting this with all our evidence including relevant CCTV footage."
Peter Herbert, the chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, said: "As far as we're concerned there has to be zero tolerance of this. If these people can be identified on camera and prosecuted then that is something we'd like to see happen."
At least 11 Spurs fans were injured during violence in Rome, in which 50 masked assailants stormed into a pub in the city, with Essex builder Ashley Mills most seriously hurt.
The president of Italy's football association has apologised to the English FA over the affair, while two men have appeared in court.
==============================================
West Ham chief David Gold warns fans of racial taunts
West Ham's Jewish co-chairman David Gold says the club will have a "zero tolerance" approach to any supporters found to have made anti-Semitic taunts.
Two Hammers fans have accepted a police caution, and one of them has been given a lifetime ban from matches for gestures made at Tottenham on Sunday.
The West Ham chief's great grandfather committed suicide after abusive taunts.
Gold said: "We have a clear stance towards any kind of discriminatory behaviour - it will not be tolerated."
Continue reading the main story
West Ham's Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun said he was "embarrassed" by some of the chanting at the game.“We are a club that promotes tolerance and inclusion of people from all backgrounds, race and religion”
David GoldWest Ham co-chairmanThe Football Association has said it will hold an investigation after reports of anti-Semitic taunts during the 3-1 Premier League win for Tottenham, who have strong links with the Jewish community.
Police said the two fans were arrested inside White Hart Lane for racially aggravated public order offences. It is understood they made Nazi-style salutes.
A complaint about abusive chanting has been made to police, who will meet with the complainant before deciding whether to open a formal criminal investigation.
Gold, who took over the east London club with David Sullivan nearly three years ago, said: "David and I are leading an investigation from the top of the club to establish exactly what happened at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
"If we can identify any individuals that have acted inappropriately they will be sought out and banned by the club as part of our zero tolerance policy.
"At the same time we must remember that West Ham United has some of the best fans in the land and we must not let the tens of thousands of supporters that follow our club over land and sea in exactly the right way be overlooked."
It has been reported that a section of the away support sang songs which referenced Adolf Hitler, the German Nazi leader who ordered the mass murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust of the 1930s and 1940s.
Some West Ham fans are also alleged to have taunted the home crowd about the stabbing of Spurs fans in Rome last week.
Continue reading the main story
Gold said: "Like many of the people around me in the directors' box at White Hart Lane I didn't hear or see any of the reported inappropriate behaviour during Sunday's game with Tottenham. If I had, then I'm sure I would have been mortified.“I am very proud of my Jewish heritage and have always been made to feel welcome at West Ham”
David Gold"As a board we genuinely believe we have some of the best supporters in the country and we will not let a minority of fans, no matter how small, affect the reputation of our great club.
"We are a club that promotes tolerance and inclusion of people from all backgrounds, race and religion. Just a quick look around our boardroom table would tell you that." ("some of my best mates are black")
The 76-year-old's great grandfather was found hanged around the turn of the 20th Century after surviving persecution in Poland but being "driven to despair" by anti-Semitism in England.
"I am very proud of my Jewish heritage and have always been made to feel welcome at West Ham since I started watching them as a young boy back in the 1950s," said Gold.
"That wasn't always the case growing up in the East End and I know first-hand how difficult dealing with prejudice can be, which is why I feel so passionately about promoting inclusion in society today."
Benayoun, 32, who is on loan from Chelsea, said a minority of fans were to blame at Tottenham and that the FA and West Ham would "do everything to find and punish them".
He added on his Twitter page: "I have a great relationship with the West Ham United supporters, from my first spell at the club and again now I am back on loan here.
"This is why I was very disappointed to hear some of the songs and it was embarrassing."
=========
And of course the League of Extraordinary Black Lawyers chairman piped up (taken from F365.com)
The Blame
Still, if you're looking for someone to blame for such anti-Semitic awfulness, then look no further than the Spurs fans themselves.
Peter Herbert, the chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, wrote in The Observer on Sunday:
'The link between the appalling incidents in Rome and the "Y" word chanting is obvious. The chanting of the word simply legitimises anti-Semitic abuse by other fans.'
There you go, Spurs fans. Your fault.
In the same piece, Herbert wrote: 'The Society of Black Lawyers, in seeking to challenge racism in football, has been accused of being "naive", "publicity-seeking", "unhelpful" or out to "get work". Organisations or individuals who speak out on human rights are seldom welcomed by those whose inaction or collusion with racism is challenged.'
If Peter Herbert wishes to refute allegations of publicity-seeking, then might Mediawatch suggest that Peter Herbert tones down the number of shiny photographs of Peter Herbert on Peter Herbert's website, Peter Herbert.net.
Still, as we're criticising him, presumably we're colluding with racism. Stick a white hood on our heads and call us rumbled.
=========================
Theres been a dramatic increase over the last 2 years of racially aggravated instances, is this primarily down to increased media coverage? Or is it down to a more sinister undertone of football that has been dormant for a long time?
