January 23 – Three fans of English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have become the first to be charged with a criminal offence for chanting the word ‘Yid’ at matches despite almost certainly using the term in a non-derogatory way.
Well-meaning Spurs fans – not all of them but a good number – have for years used chants like ‘yid’ and ‘Yid Army’ not as term of abuse but exactly the opposite: as a badge of honour, identity and pride towards a club who are renowned for their large Jewish supporter base.
However, Jews who do not follow Tottenham Hotspur view such language as, as best, insensitive and at worst racist and the three supporters will go on trial accused of racially aggravated abusive behaviour, the Crown Prosecution Service ruled.
They were arrested during home games last October and November and charged this week for causing ”harassment, alarm or distress” by using a ”threatening, abusive or insulting” word.
This prompted the official Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust to say it was “saddened but not surprised”.
“It remains our firm belief that, when used in a footballing context by Tottenham Hotspur supporters, there is no intent or desire to offend any member of the Jewish community,” the group said. “We will continue to offer advice and support to any fan arrested by the Metropolitan Police for using the term in such circumstances.’
Last year, British prime minister David Cameron spoke up for Spurs fans using the term affectionately. “You have to be motivated by hate. Hate speech should be prosecuted – but only when it’s motivated by hate,” Cameron said.
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