Three Tottenham Hotspur fans charged with criminal offences for using the word “Yid” have had their charges dropped, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced.

Supporters Gary Whybrow, 31, Sam Parsons, 24 and Peter Ditchman, 52, appeared in Highbury Court on Friday, after being accused of racial harassment in connection with the Y-word.

Mr Whybrow and Mr Parsons were arrested at White Hart Lane stadium last November at Spurs’ Europa League game against FC Sheriff, while Mr Ditchman was arrested in October at the club’s Premier League match against West Ham. The latter was also charged with possessing cocaine on site.

But according to the CPS, it has now discontinued all criminal proceedings against them.

Their arrests followed widespread debate late last year, after the Football Association issued guidelines in September announcing that fans chanting the word “Yid” could be liable to criminal prosecution.

The move caused anger among Spurs fans, who refer to themselves as the “Yid army” as well as the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust, which stressed that “when used in a footballing context by Tottenham supporters, there is no intent or desire to offend any member of the Jewish community” .

Mr Whybrow, Mr Parsons and Mr Ditchman were the only people, as of yet, to have been charged with the offence.