It’s the second time this week that Chelsea FC supporters are making headlines worldwide for bigoted behavior at the venue on match day. A portion of the Chelsea FC supporters who attended the side’s UEFA Europa League draw at Vidi in Budapest allegedly engaged in anti-Semitic chants, and now the club could be sanctioned over it.
The European football governing body have launched an investigation into the behavior of the supporters, who allegedly directed the chants at Premier League rival Tottenham Hotspur.
Given UEFA anti-discrimination protocols, the club now faces the prospect of having part of Stamford Bridge closed off during an upcoming UEL fixture.
Shortly after the game last night, the club issued a statement that was worded about as strongly as possible.
“Anti-semitism or any other kind of race-related or religious hatred is abhorrent to this club and the overwhelming majority of our fans,” the Chelsea FC spokesman said. “It has no place at Chelsea or in any of our communities. We have stated this loud and clear on many occasions from the owner, the board, coaches and players.”
“Any individuals that can’t summon the brain power to comprehend this simple message and are found to have shamed the club by using anti-semitic or racist words or actions will face the strongest possible action from the club.”
Well said! Couldn’t agree more!
Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich, who is Jewish and has invested over £1 billion into the club since he acquired it a decade and a half ago, is Jewish.
He is leading the club in current initiatives to combat anti-Semitism, even staging a friendly in Massachusetts this spring, against the New England Revolution, where all proceeds raised will go to this cause.
The Anti-Defamation League has voiced their support for Chelsea/Abramovich’s work in this arena and has vowed to join the fight.
This type of vile #antiSemitism has no place in sports, or in our communities. We’re committed to working with @ChelseaFC to take a stand against #antiSemitism both on and off the field. https://t.co/uthFkygWUw
— ADL (@ADL) December 14, 2018
This latest example of Chelsea fans acting abhorrently comes just days after the team banned supporters who allegedly racially abused Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling this past Saturday.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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