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Ten per cent of reported racism in football is antisemitism
Reports of discriminatory abuse rose, with 520 reported incidents in a year
November 29, 2018 15:09
Reports of discriminatory abuse rose, with 520 reported incidents in a year
November 29, 2018 15:09Antisemitism accounted for ten per cent of racism reported in football in a year, new figures show.
In the year between 2017 and 2018 reports of racism rose 22 per cent and constituted for 53 per cent of discriminatory reports for the year, according to statistics released by anti-football racism group Kick It Out.
The charity said it received a total of 520 reports of discriminatory abuse, which is an 11 per cent increase from the 469 it recorded in 2016 to 2017.
The increase in antisemitism comes as Kick It Out prepares to release a series of educational resources made in partnership with Chelsea Football Club, encouraging football fans to tackle antisemitic abuse.
As part of the partnership, antisemitism watchdog the Community Security Trust has produced a stewards’ training guide, designed to help them spot and report Jew-hate.
Joel Nathan, chairman of Brady Maccabi football club, an offshoot of the Maccabi youth movement which was formed in 1929, said he has seen a lot of abuse over the years.
"I think it's mainly due to what people read in the newspapers, they think it's okay to happen and then all of a sudden they get carried away and start doing it," he told Sky News.
"Last season we had a very big case and this season we've already had three or four that I've had to report to the FA."
Kick it Out's statistics take in reports from all levels of the game, including the Premier League, English Football League (EFL), FA Women’s Super League, non-league and grassroots fixtures.
Joel Freedman, who is a Brady Maccabi player, told Sky News he experienced abuse playing for the under 16 and 17’s team.
He said: "It got worse and they just kept on going, bringing up Jewish things that had happened in the past.
"After the game on Instagram and social media, one of their players managed to find some of our players.
"They got added to a group and their team were throwing antisemitic comments at us and saying how Hitler was right and the gas chambers were a good thing and we should all get gassed."
Kick It Out chair Lord Ouseley said: "It is hugely disappointing to have to reveal, yet again, increasing levels of all forms of discriminatory abuse at football.
“While the increased reports reflect a greater inclination among fans to complain about unacceptable abuse, these trends reflect, in part, what is happening in the rest of society.”
He added: “Football cannot be complacent about the risk to the game this represents...
"The professional leagues and their clubs must do more in a coherent and consistent way - exemplifying all the best practices applied by some clubs - to drive hateful and abusive spectators out of the game.
“Equally, The FA and its county associations, as well as local leagues, must step up their actions to ensure compliance and enforcement at grassroots level.”
