Chelsea Football Club have teamed up with the World Jewish Congress in a Holocaust remembrance campaign, recruiting their top players to speak out against antisemitism after a series of incidents where the club's fans allegedly shouted anti-Jewish chants.
Eden Hazard, César Azpilicueta, Hannah Blundell and Millie Bright speak in a new video released ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27.
We're proud to once again join the @WorldJewishCong #WeRemember campaign ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 15, 2019
This is part of our long-term commitment to educating our players, staff, fans and the wider community about antisemitism in football. pic.twitter.com/OjHgUC0rVS
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is Jewish, appears in the video promoting the #WeRemember campaign, alongside manager Maurizio Sarri and coach Carlo Cudicini.
Bright said: “We must make it clear that there is no place for religious, ethnic or national-based hate, both on and off the pitch.”
The Chelsea hierarchy has spoken out against racism on a number of occasions this season, as the club’s fans have been accused of repeatedly engaging in antisemitic chants.
The club is facing the prospect of a partial stadium closure after football authorities confirmed that they would open disciplinary proceedings over alleged antisemitism at an away fixture in Hungary.
Last October, Chelsea also said its strategy to deal with fans found to have used antisemitic and racist language had shifted from punishment to “education and rehabilitation”.
