West Ham fans sing anti-Semitic football chants at Orthodox Jewish man
Fury as video shows West Ham fans singing anti-Semitic football chants at Orthodox Jewish man as he takes his seat on flight to Belgium ahead of their Europa League match
- Hammers supporters were understood to be on board a plane bound for Genk
- Men were heard chanting as a man wearing religious clothing walked down aisle
- The small crowd of passengers sang vile songs about Jewish men’s penises
- They referenced Tottenham, a rival club and home to large Jewish community
Shocking footage has emerged of West Ham fans singing anti-Semitic football chants at an Orthodox Jewish man as he takes his seat on a flight to Belgium.
The supporters were understood to be on board a plane bound for Genk, where David Moyes’ side were playing in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
However, as a man dressed in religious clothing makes his way down the aisle, a small crowd of passengers can be heard singing vile songs about Jewish men’s penises.
The club tonight told MailOnline it was ‘appalled’ by the video and insisted any individuals identified would be banned.
Shocking footage has emerged of West Ham fans singing anti-Semitic football chants at an Orthodox Jewish man as he takes his seat on a flight to Belgium
As a man dressed in religious clothing makes his way down the aisle, a small crowd of passengers can be heard singing vile songs about Jewish men’s penises
The men use the sick chant to reference Tottenham, one of West Ham’s fiercest rivals and traditionally home to a large Jewish community.
The clip, which circulated on social media on Thursday night, sparked fury among many, amid calls for the supporters to be arrested and for the Premier League club to enforce its own punishments
Ian Austin, a life peer in the House of Lords and former Labour MP, tweeted: ‘Disgusting. That’s not an ‘anti Tottenham song’, it’s antisemitic. The poor guy. It’s racist abuse. Why weren’t they kicked off the flight?
‘Will @WestHam identify the fans and ban them. Will @metpolice arrest and prosecute them? I’ll be writing to @karren_brady [West Ham’s vice-chairman] about this.’
Jewish writer Michael Dickson added: ‘Disgusting anti-Jewish chant towards a Jewish man by a crowd of fans.
‘The club and everyone of goodwill should condemn this. Kick out racism in football and ban these ‘fans’.’
West Ham drew 2-2 with Genk after a late Thomas Soucek own goal helped the hosts to an equaliser following Said Benrahma’s earlier brace.
A West Ham United spokesperson said: ‘West Ham United is appalled by the contents of the video circulating on social media and condemn the behaviour of the individuals involved.
‘The Club is liaising with the airline and relevant authorities to identify the individuals.
‘We continue to be unequivocal in our stance – we have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination.
‘Any individuals identified will be issued with an indefinite ban from the Club. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the Football Club and we do not welcome any individuals who do not share those values.’
The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment.
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