West Ham 'disgusted' after fans are filmed chanting antisemitic abuse

West Ham have vowed to ban a group of supporters filmed engaging in antisemitic chants on their way to the club’s Premier League match at Manchester United.

In the latest in a recent series of incidents of racist abuse in football, the group were filmed singing an abusive song about rivals Tottenham on a tram before the game at Old Trafford, which West Ham lost 2-1.

Shortly after the footage appeared online, West Ham issued a statement which read: “We are disgusted by the contents of the video circulating on social media this evening. We are taking immediate action to try to identify the offenders, whose details we will be handing over to the police and will be banned for life from London Stadium and from travelling with the club.

“West Ham United is unequivocal in its stance – there is no place for this kind of behaviour at our club. We do not want people like this associated with West Ham United. They are not welcome at our club, they are not welcome in civilised society.”

The incident came two days after a group of Chelsea supporters were filmed singing an Islamophobic chant about Mohamed Salah before their Europa League match against Slavia Prague – with the club also investigating a supporter’s complaint that he was racially abused by fellow fans at the same match.

On the same night, Arsenal condemned racist abuse directed at Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly during their Europa League win at the Emirates, and on Friday a match in Ligue 1 was stopped for several minutes after the Amiens defender Prince Gouano was the target of alleged racial abuse at Dijon.

Responding to the recent spate of incidents, Gianni Infantino, the Fifa president, issued a statement calling for a zero tolerance approach.

“In recent days, it has been very sad to see a number of racist incidents in football,” said Infantino. “This is really not acceptable. Racism has no place in football, just as it has no place in society either.

“Fifa stands together with Prince Gouano, Kalidou Koulibaly, Raheem Sterling, Danny Rose, as well as any other player, coach, fan or participant in a football match who has suffered from racism, whether at the highest professional level or in a school playground. Racism needs to end. Full stop.”

source: theguardian.com