Today, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club published an update on the so-called “Y-word” consultation process, initiated in July 2019, following a series of virtual focus groups with fans in August 2020. THST has been in dialogue with the Club throughout the consultation process and we welcome the measured statement and clear position the Club has taken in its latest communications.
Our view has always been that Spurs fans’ use of the word in a football context is not an expression of hatred against Jewish people. And we have publicly defended our fans against that charge in the courts and in the media.
We recognise that many Jewish Spurs supporters have found this positive assertion of identity empowering and emboldening in often difficult times, and that for very many Tottenham Hotspur supporters the word is used to identify as a Spurs fan, is core to that identity, is a badge of honour and a source of fierce pride.
We also recognise there are a variety of views and a continually developing debate on the issue. And we have to, unfortunately, acknowledge that there have been attempts to reference the use of the word by our fans to undermine anti-discrimination work at the Club generally.
We need to be very clear here. Attempts to portray Spurs fans’ use of the word as antisemitic are part of the problem. The focus must be on confronting and stopping the unambiguous antisemitic abuse directed at this Club and its supporters, about which no action has ever been taken.
For further clarity – chants about Auschwitz, gas chambers and hissing noises are unambiguous antisemitic abuse. Chants of “Yid Army” by Spurs fans in support of their team are not. Excusing the former by citing the latter is unacceptable.
It has long been our opinion that any move away from using the term needs to come from the fan base. We have also said that if and when the fan base decides the time has come to move away from using the term, we would support that process. That remains the case.
The Club’s latest statement indicates a growing number of fans are willing and able to conduct the discussion on that basis.
It will now take time for the Club’s request for a reappraisal and reassessment of the use of the term, and its accompanying awareness initiative, to have any effect. During that time, we restate our principle that any change should be achieved through consent and not through sanction.
THST Board
10 February 2022
We recognise that many Jewish Spurs supporters have found this positive assertion of identity empowering and emboldening in often difficult times, and that for very many Tottenham Hotspur supporters the word is used to identify as a Spurs fan, is core to that identity, is a badge of honour and a source of fierce pride.
We also recognise there are a variety of views and a continually developing debate on the issue. And we have to, unfortunately, acknowledge that there have been attempts to reference the use of the word by our fans to undermine anti-discrimination work at the Club generally.
We need to be very clear here. Attempts to portray Spurs fans’ use of the word as antisemitic are part of the problem. The focus must be on confronting and stopping the unambiguous antisemitic abuse directed at this Club and its supporters, about which no action has ever been taken.
For further clarity – chants about Auschwitz, gas chambers and hissing noises are unambiguous antisemitic abuse. Chants of “Yid Army” by Spurs fans in support of their team are not. Excusing the former by citing the latter is unacceptable.
It has long been our opinion that any move away from using the term needs to come from the fan base. We have also said that if and when the fan base decides the time has come to move away from using the term, we would support that process. That remains the case.
The Club’s latest statement indicates a growing number of fans are willing and able to conduct the discussion on that basis.
It will now take time for the Club’s request for a reappraisal and reassessment of the use of the term, and its accompanying awareness initiative, to have any effect. During that time, we restate our principle that any change should be achieved through consent and not through sanction.
THST Board
10 February 2022
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