MET POLICE: SING WHAT YOU WANT! - LT
Metropolitan Police have reassured Tottenham they will NOT face prosecution over their own supporters use of the word 'Yid' in matchday chants.
The police have clarified their stance over whether the club's supporters could be investigated for making racial slurs given the anti-Semitic nature of the word 'Yid'.
Club supporters often sing songs featuring the expression, and on Thursday the club released a statement defending their fans right to use the expression.
And the Met have advised Tottenham chants such as 'Yid Army' will not lead to prosecution on the basis that it is used with no 'deliberate intention to cause offence'.
Spurs' conversations with police come after the Society of Black Lawyers threatened to report the club to the police if they were not seen to be doing more to ensure the term is no longer used.
SPURS STATEMENT
'The club does not tolerate any form of racist or abusive chanting.
'Our guiding principle in respect of the "Y-word" is based on the point of law itself - the distinguishing factor is the intent with which it is used ie if it is used with the deliberate intention to cause offence.
'This has been the basis of prosecutions of fans of other teams to date. Our fans adopted the chant as a defence mechanism in order to own the term and thereby deflect anti-Semitic abuse. They do not use the term to others to cause any offence, they use it a chant amongst themselves.
'The club believes that real anti-semitic abuse such as hissing to simulate the noise of gas chambers is the real evil and the real offence. We believe this is the area that requires a determined and concerted effort from all parties and where we seek greater support to eradicate.'
Chairman Peter Herbert originally said that if chants including the word continue, he would ask police to bring a prosecution for racism.
The club responded with a strong defence of their supporters’ use of the word but Herbert has blasted back, accusing the supporters of casual racism.
‘The argument sounds like it is 40 years old,’ he said. ‘I’m deeply saddened that a football club that represents such a diverse area has taken such a view. I don’t want to have to take my children to a football match and expect to hear anti-Semitic chants.
‘Tottenham Hotspur Football Club obviously just don’t get it. It’s almost like saying if a woman refers to another woman in a derogatory fashion then it is OK.’
Herbert added: ‘What we are trying to do is change a culture. What we are saying to Tottenham is, “Maybe this was OK 50 years ago - but it isn’t now”.
‘Even if it comes from Tottenham supporters, it remains casual racism. We understand it is a difficult, and for some an uncomfortable, stance to take, but we feel it is the right stance.’
Tottenham then issued an impassioned defence of their fans’ right to use the term ‘Yid’ in their matchday chants.
Spurs are steeped in Jewish tradition and large sections of their support refer to themselves as ‘Yids’ in matchday songs.
In a statement: ‘The club does not tolerate any form of racist or abusive chanting.
'Our guiding principle in respect of the “Y-word” is based on the point of law itself — the distinguishing factor is the intent with which it is used, i.e. if it is used with the deliberate intention to cause offence.
SOCIETY OF BLACK LAWYERS' PLAN
A minimum six to nine-month ban for racial abuse, rising to a five-year ban for a third offence
Any fines going directly to Kick It Out to fund grassroots anti-racism initiatives
The creation of representative associations for black players, managers and coaches
Guidance for referees to send off players using racist abuse and the power to call off games where the crowd is using such abuse
A 20 per cent quota at all levels of the FA, PFA, clubs as well as football agents and referees
Racial abuse to be a matter of gross misconduct incorporated into players’ contracts
Clubs to invest in the personal education of all players, including university or college education
Recording referees and assistants during matches to pick up any possible abuse by players.
A system for reporting racial incidents to be set up with details of these incidents, both on and off the pitch, published each year
'This has been the basis of prosecutions of fans of other teams to date. Our fans adopted the chant as a defence mechanism in order to own the term and thereby deflect anti-Semitic abuse. They do not use the term to others to cause any offence, they use it as a chant among themselves.
‘The club believes that real anti-Semitic abuse such as hissing to simulate the noise of gas chambers is the real evil and the real offence.
‘We believe this is the area that requires a determined effort from all parties and where we seek greater support to eradicate.’
Former Spurs stars Gary Lineker and Ledley King have previously condemned the mimicking of the gas chambers by away supporters.
Tottenham have traditionally been well supported by members of the Jewish community. Many fans do not consider references to their faith as offensive. Others,such as comedian David Baddiel, however, do.
Last year Baddiel launched a campaign, supported by Lineker, to stamp out use of the word 'yid' in football chants which mock Jewish and Tottenham supporters.
The Society of Black Lawyers is involved in talks to create a Black Players’ Association with some professionals, claiming the football authorities are not doing enough to represent them or to tackle racism in the sport.
The PFA recently introduced its own six-point action plan but the society says this will prove 'ineffective'.
SUPPORTER COMMENT: SORRY BUT THE Y-WORD BELONGS TO US
As a youngster growing up supporting Spurs, it took me some time to realise the word 'yid' was an offensive racial slur. I'd never heard it used in a derogatory sense at White Hart Lane, only ever as a collective term - yid army - and as a positive identifier.
If a player was good, he was a yiddo.
But its significance soon became apparent. Though far from the abhorrent gas chamber hissing of some away fans, it's still sensitive. Context is important, though, and its reclamation as a positive term at the ground should not be ignored.
The Society of Black lawyers says use of the word yid, including the tone adopted by Spurs fans, amounts to casual racism. Perhaps they have a point. Perhaps simply substituting the word would be the answer. But Spurs fans are unlikely to take kindly at being told what to do by an external body, especially as it is largely considered a positive, rather than offensive, chant.
David Baddiel tried to stamp out its use by Tottenham supporters but, despite his own Jewish faith, the views of a Chelsea fan were never likely to be accepted by the Spurs majority.
If the word yid really is to be kicked out of White Hart Lane, it would need concerns to be raised from within the Spurs-supporting community, rather than outside pressures.
Andrew Magee, life-long Spurs supporter
