Spurs fans should not be prosecuted for 'Yid' chants: David Cameron wades into anti-semitism row

 
Joseph Watts18 September 2013
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

David Cameron stumbled into a race row today after saying Tottenham Hotspur fans who use the word “Yid” in chants should not be prosecuted.

The Prime Minister said Spurs fans who call themselves the “Yid army” and players “Yiddos” were not using the term as an offence.

His comments come amid controversy over the term’s use amongst Jewish groups who have insisted it is always offensive and encourages anti-Semitism.

Mr Cameron’s statement also contradicts guidance issued by the Football Association last week which said fans chanting the word on the terrace could be liable to criminal charges.

Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle the Prime Minister said: “You have to think of the [intent].

“There’s a difference between Spurs fans self-describing themselves as Yids and someone calling someone a Yid as an insult.

“You have to be motivated by hate. Hate speech should be prosecuted — but only when it’s motivated by hate.”

In guidance it issued last week the FA said the word was likely to be considered as “offensive by the reasonable observer” and that its use was inappropriate at football matches.

It went on: “Use of the term in a public setting could amount to a criminal offence, and leave those fans liable to prosecution and potentially a lengthy football banning order.”

The Board of Deputies which represents British Jews has also said it fully backs the FA’s stance.

A post on its website read: “By Tottenham fans using the Y-word, they are legitimising references to Jews in football when, frankly, religion, ethnicity or colour should have no place in sport.

Read More

“Even if they are using the term endearingly, it still has no place in a football stadium. And by using it they encourage other fans to respond, often in highly unpleasant ways.”

The Board added: “Would we be having this debate, if a club chanted the N-word or P-word repeatedly during matches?”

The Community Security Trust, which works to fight anti-Semitism, has also said it backs the FA’s statement as has the anti-racism in sport group Kick It Out.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in