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Exclusive: Tottenham under pressure to stop fans signing Y-word in renewed drive to combat anti-Semitism

Chelsea are at the forefront of this drive to kick anit-Semitism out of football  - Reuters
Chelsea are at the forefront of this drive to kick anit-Semitism out of football - Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur have come under renewed pressure to tell their supporters to stop using the Y-word as part of a call to football clubs to follow Chelsea’s lead and do more to fight anti-Semitism.

On the eve of Monday’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, which also marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck and Lord John Mann, the government’s advisor on anti-Semitism, have spoken exclusively to Telegraph Sport on their efforts to fight anti-Semitism.

Both men believe that the task is made harder by the fact that Tottenham’s supporters continue to use the Y-word, both inside the club’s stadium and to describe themselves.

“I would like Spurs to tackle it head on and I’ve told them that to their face many times, because that would help,” said Lord Mann. “It impacts outside Spurs and, with a new stadium, I think they are in a position to tackle it far more effectively than they could in their old stadium. And I think they should be.”

Buck added: “From our perspective, after discussing it with the World Jewish Congress and other organisations, our view has been confirmed that the use of the word is inappropriate and that is what we tell our fans - the use of the word is inappropriate and don’t use it.

Lord John Mann during a press conference to sign the declaration, formally adopting the IHRA working definition of antisemitism at Chelsea Training Ground - Credit: Getty Images
UK Government Independent Adviser on Antisemitism Lord John Mann Credit: Getty Images

“The fans get confused because they don’t understand why it’s inappropriate for them to use it as Chelsea fans, but it’s appropriate for Spurs fans to use it. And that makes it very difficult in our job to convince our fans not to use it. Having said that, I’m sure Spurs are aware of the issue and I’m sure they are considering how to deal with it as best they can.”

Chelsea launched their anti-Semitism campaign two years ago and became the first sports club to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of anti-Semitism.

Head coach Frank Lampard appears in a video, also featuring a host of other Premier League managers and players including Jurgen Klopp, Virgil van Dijk and Harry Kane, to condemn hatred and anti-Semitism.

“There are things others can learn from Chelsea,” added Lord Mann. “Football can learn from it and you cannot underestimate how important this is.”

Tottenham issued an update on their consultation over the use of the Y-word in December and are in the process of organising a series of focus groups to discuss and educate on the issue further.

The results of their consultation revealed 94 per cent of the 23,000 respondents acknowledged the Y-word can be considered a racist term and almost half said they would prefer to see supporters chant the Y-word less or stop using it. Only 11 per cent of those asked stated they were Jewish.

As part of the consultation, Tottenham said: “We have always maintained that a reassessment of the use of the Y-word by Spurs fans can only take place effectively within an environment where there is also a zero tolerance approach taken towards real anti-Semitic abuse.

“Sentiment around this term appears to be changing among the fanbase – there is a recognition of the offence the Y-word can cause and that a footballing context alone does not justify its continued use.”