The footballing world was shaken to its core in recent weeks as the news broke that some Chelsea and Arsenal fans might be gigantic anti-Semites.
Except that wasn’t the case; all too sadly, nobody was surprised at all to hear that Chelsea supporters in Europe had let themselves down again.
It then emerged after the Carabao Cup quarter final at The Emirates, that some Arsenal fans think that it is normal to swear, spit at and toss coinsat Spurs supporters.
Tottenham fans of my vintage and older can confirm that supporters from certain English sides have despairingly lengthy form for viciously abusing Jews.
Spurs probably have no more Jewish fans than anyone else these days, but the problem is deep rooted. This is not just a football thing.
It’s no great riddle why East End Jews (that fled from Europe in the 1930s) preferred to travel up to White Hart Lane in North London to watch a game, rather than join the indigenous West Ham crowds at the far closer Upton Park.
It was the Jewish street gangs that fought and defeated Moseley’s black shirts – on more than one occasion on the cobbles of the capital.
The danger here is the glacial acceptance. Sure, there are always investigations and banning orders but fundamentally, nothing changes.
The sanctimony from high profile Jewish football fans Matt Lucas (Arsenal) and David Baddiel (Chelsea) particularly grates.
According to this fine pair, Spurs fans have brought this on themselves, by referring to themselves as ‘Yids’. Despite this word not having a vaguely pejorative etymology.
Ignorance is bliss – Matt Lucas Tweet
It was a word adopted by bigots and has since been reclaimed by Tottenham fans who use it in a fraternal, tribal manner.
Language evolves – this is quite normal.
What isn’t normal though, is being lectured by comedians who have both repeatedly ‘blacked up’ in order get a laugh.
David Baddiel – as football Jason Lee on Fantasy Football League
The answers to this mess don’t lie in day trips to Auschwitz, fines or banning orders, but in educating the next generation to be better than the last one.
Severe point deductions must be introduced.
If clubs with anti-Semitic fans were deducted 10 points every time they behaved appallingly, the problem would be driven out of football quicker than you could say, ‘Onion Pletzel, anyone?‘
