COPY OF Arsenal investigate kit man for anti-Semitic social media posts

Arsenal have opened an internal investigation after a series of anti-Semitic messages were posted on a social media account allegedly belonging to a member of their academy staff.

An X account under the name of Mark Bonnick, a kit man at the Arsenal academy, has posted a string of messages in online conversations with Jewish people.

The Times reports that those messages were posted over the last few weeks, and that they include: “Hamas offered to release all hostages in October. Zionist Israel refused. Persecution complex.”

There were also references to “Jewish supremacy” and “ethnic cleansing” in the midst of an online discussion about the Israel-Gaza war.

Another post read: “Why should they be protected any more than any other community? Some see this as the problem Jewish communities thinking they should be put before others.”

In a post last month, the account wrote: “It is all about Jewish supremacy and not wanting to share the land. Ethnic cleansing.”

In a statement, Arsenal said: “We are investigating this matter in line with our internal policies and procedures. Arsenal stands against all forms of abuse and discrimination.”

It is reported that Arsenal have received complaints from one of their supporter groups, while Bonnick could also be investigated by the Football Association.

As of Wednesday night, the account on X had been deactivated.