The FA on Wednesday night threatened that in addition to potential banning orders, 'unacceptable language' could result in criminal prosecution. They added that though Spurs fans chant the term as a 'badge of honour' in a reference to the club's Jewish roots, they also 'cloud the issue' as other supporters would use the word to intentionally cause offence.
But a statement from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust read: 'Whilst we fully recognise that Spurs fans' use of the Y word and associated identity may have caused some upset to members of the Jewish community, we sincerely believe that no Spurs fan uses the term in a malicious way.
Watch your language: Tottenham fans have been given a strong caution by the FA not to chant the word Yid
'THST is categorically against ejections and banning orders for the use of the term by Tottenham Hotspur supporters in a match environment and will be seeking advice from both the FSF and the legal profession as to whether there is scope for such measures under current legislation. Our view has always been that should Spurs fans use of the ‘Yid’ identity come to an end, this should be as a result of the feeling amongst the Spurs community that it was time to naturally move on.'
The FA statement on Wednesday night had said: ‘The FA considers that the use of the term “Yid” is likely to be considered offensive by the reasonable observer and considers the term to be inappropriate in a football setting.
‘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.’
Targets: Spurs fans were subjected to anti-Semitic attacks in Rome last season
The Metropolitan Police, however, has previously advised Spurs that mass chants such as ‘Yid Army’ will not lead to prosecution on the basis there is no ‘deliberate intention to cause offence’.
Two West Ham fans were last season incidentally arrested and cautioned after away supporters sang sickening songs and made Nazi salutes during Spurs’ 3-1 win at White Hart Lane in November.
The FA launched a probe but no further action was taken. Tottenham fans were also targeted twice by right-wing thugs before Europa League matches in Rome and Lyons last season.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUPPORTERS' TRUST STATEMENT IN FULL
The
Board of Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust notes, with interest, the
recent statement from The FA regarding the use of the term ‘Yid’ within a
football environment.
This issue has always been of the utmost importance to us and, whilst we fully recognise that Spurs fans use of the Y word and associated identity may have caused some upset to members of the Jewish community, we sincerely believe that no Spurs fan uses the term in a malicious way.
As stated at the meeting with The FA at Soho Square in 2006, THST believes that rather than focus on Tottenham Hotspur fans using the term, more work needs to be done to educate supporters of other clubs as to why it is completely unacceptable for them to continue to sing songs and chants that do not focus solely on Spurs fans but slur the Jewish community as a whole. THST recommended a programme be developed to educate fans of opposing teams as to why the meaning when used by others differed to the meaning when used by Spurs fans. It's with much sadness we report that no such programme took place, in spite of our offers of assistance.
THST is categorically against ejections
and banning orders for the use of the term by Tottenham Hotspur
supporters in a match environment and will be seeking advice from both
the FSF and the legal profession as to whether there is scope for such
measures under current legislation. Our view has always been that should
Spurs fans use of the ‘Yid’ identity come to an end, this should be as a
result of the feeling amongst the Spurs community that it was time to
naturally move on.
Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to communicate with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and The FA to best serve Tottenham Hotspur supporters on this matter.
We welcome all contribution of ideas towards that aim either by email to info@THSTOfficial.com, via our website located at www.THSTOfficial.com or through our twitter account @THSTOfficial.
This issue has always been of the utmost importance to us and, whilst we fully recognise that Spurs fans use of the Y word and associated identity may have caused some upset to members of the Jewish community, we sincerely believe that no Spurs fan uses the term in a malicious way.
As stated at the meeting with The FA at Soho Square in 2006, THST believes that rather than focus on Tottenham Hotspur fans using the term, more work needs to be done to educate supporters of other clubs as to why it is completely unacceptable for them to continue to sing songs and chants that do not focus solely on Spurs fans but slur the Jewish community as a whole. THST recommended a programme be developed to educate fans of opposing teams as to why the meaning when used by others differed to the meaning when used by Spurs fans. It's with much sadness we report that no such programme took place, in spite of our offers of assistance.
THST is categorically against ejections
and banning orders for the use of the term by Tottenham Hotspur
supporters in a match environment and will be seeking advice from both
the FSF and the legal profession as to whether there is scope for such
measures under current legislation. Our view has always been that should
Spurs fans use of the ‘Yid’ identity come to an end, this should be as a
result of the feeling amongst the Spurs community that it was time to
naturally move on.Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to communicate with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and The FA to best serve Tottenham Hotspur supporters on this matter.
We welcome all contribution of ideas towards that aim either by email to info@THSTOfficial.com, via our website located at www.THSTOfficial.com or through our twitter account @THSTOfficial.
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