Post by QPR Report on Jan 8, 2010 15:19:25 GMT
Glad to know the Chelsea perspective. He should let Abramovich know
Jewish Chronicle Chelsea chants denounced by Muslim leader
By Martin Bright, January 7, 2010
A leading Muslim politician campaigning against antisemitic chanting at Chelsea Football Club has been told that fans who shout âWe hate Yids!â about Tottenham fans are not expressing hatred of Jews.
Chelsea has rejected the proposal of the Labour London Assembly member, Murad Qureshi, that the club should introduce an anti-racism programme for fans and stewards to show it is taking the problem seriously
Mr Qureshi wrote to Ron Gourlay, Chelseaâs chief executive, in November, after attending a match as part of a delegation organised by the campaign group Show Racism the Red Card.
âI was dismayed to hear clear antisemitic chanting from Chelsea supporters in the Matthew Harding stand,â he said. He reported that a Chelsea season-ticket holder told him this was a regular occurrence at the clubâs west London stadium, Stamford Bridge.
Edward Ashwell, Chelseaâs head of security, replied: âThe problem of antisemitic chanting at Stamford Bridge is not as clear cut as it might be. Tottenham Hotspur supporters call themselves âthe Yidsâ and when some Chelsea supporters chant âWe hate Yidsâ they do not mean âWe hate Jewish peopleâ, they actually mean âWe hate Tottenham supportersâ much in the same way as they chant âWe hate Leedsâ .â
Mr Ashwell emphasised that the club did not condone this behaviour. He added: âIt is not easy to deal with when a large number of people are taking part, but we try to identify the ringleaders and eject and/or arrest them as an example.â
An astonished Mr Qureshi wrote back to the club, this time copying in Chelseaâs Jewish owner Roman Abramovich, to say that he did not accept the clubâs explanation.
He said the club failed to recognise the explicitly antisemitic nature of chants at the club. âOne chant starts: âheâs only a poor little Yiddoâ and continues by saying that âhe goes to the bar to buy a drink and only buys one for himselfâ. Another involves the line ârunning round Tottenham with his foreskin hanging outââ.
Last month Mr Gourlay, on behalf of Mr Abramovich, responded to Mr Qureshiâs concerns, confirming that the club vigorously opposed racist chanting.
Mr Qureshi told the JC he was disappointed by Chelseaâs response. âThey need to take this far more seriously. Chelsea fans themselves know this is a problem. We mustnât forget older forms of racism when dealing with new ones such as Islamophobia.â
Chelseaâs official spokesman Simon Taylor, who said Mr Ashwell did not speak for the club, said: âWe have been focusing our efforts to make it clear to our fans that chanting of this nature is discriminatory, offensive and totally unacceptable. Chelsea has a zero tolerance policy towards such behaviour.â
www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/25846/chelsea-chants-denounced-muslim-leader
Jewish Chronicle Chelsea chants denounced by Muslim leader
By Martin Bright, January 7, 2010
A leading Muslim politician campaigning against antisemitic chanting at Chelsea Football Club has been told that fans who shout âWe hate Yids!â about Tottenham fans are not expressing hatred of Jews.
Chelsea has rejected the proposal of the Labour London Assembly member, Murad Qureshi, that the club should introduce an anti-racism programme for fans and stewards to show it is taking the problem seriously
Mr Qureshi wrote to Ron Gourlay, Chelseaâs chief executive, in November, after attending a match as part of a delegation organised by the campaign group Show Racism the Red Card.
âI was dismayed to hear clear antisemitic chanting from Chelsea supporters in the Matthew Harding stand,â he said. He reported that a Chelsea season-ticket holder told him this was a regular occurrence at the clubâs west London stadium, Stamford Bridge.
Edward Ashwell, Chelseaâs head of security, replied: âThe problem of antisemitic chanting at Stamford Bridge is not as clear cut as it might be. Tottenham Hotspur supporters call themselves âthe Yidsâ and when some Chelsea supporters chant âWe hate Yidsâ they do not mean âWe hate Jewish peopleâ, they actually mean âWe hate Tottenham supportersâ much in the same way as they chant âWe hate Leedsâ .â
Mr Ashwell emphasised that the club did not condone this behaviour. He added: âIt is not easy to deal with when a large number of people are taking part, but we try to identify the ringleaders and eject and/or arrest them as an example.â
An astonished Mr Qureshi wrote back to the club, this time copying in Chelseaâs Jewish owner Roman Abramovich, to say that he did not accept the clubâs explanation.
He said the club failed to recognise the explicitly antisemitic nature of chants at the club. âOne chant starts: âheâs only a poor little Yiddoâ and continues by saying that âhe goes to the bar to buy a drink and only buys one for himselfâ. Another involves the line ârunning round Tottenham with his foreskin hanging outââ.
Last month Mr Gourlay, on behalf of Mr Abramovich, responded to Mr Qureshiâs concerns, confirming that the club vigorously opposed racist chanting.
Mr Qureshi told the JC he was disappointed by Chelseaâs response. âThey need to take this far more seriously. Chelsea fans themselves know this is a problem. We mustnât forget older forms of racism when dealing with new ones such as Islamophobia.â
Chelseaâs official spokesman Simon Taylor, who said Mr Ashwell did not speak for the club, said: âWe have been focusing our efforts to make it clear to our fans that chanting of this nature is discriminatory, offensive and totally unacceptable. Chelsea has a zero tolerance policy towards such behaviour.â
www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/25846/chelsea-chants-denounced-muslim-leader