The Y Word...

[Fosse Boy]

[Simmo86]

WTF??

[The Doctor]

Sounds like they're chanting Weale.

Never heard any chants regarding jews before though.

[lcfc_jme]

That's a well put together video that, Bert. Congrats.

[Stig the Lawnmower]

david Baddeil was on talk sport this afternoon talking about this video and the rascism against jews at games in the capital. To be honest i didn't even realise that the term was offensive, thought y*ddish was an acceptable term for the jewish race, although i have never had cause to use it, and i won't now i know the offence it causes. I gather that the chant is common at spurs local derbies, never heard it at filbo though.

[Fosse Boy]

The video doesn't seem to suggest there's anything wrong with Spurs fans doing it self-referentially though...

[Guest Bilo]

Never realised anti-Semitic chanting was such a big problem to be honest.

Chants like that Auschwitz one are obviously disgusting and not that uncommon on the continent, far-right hooligan groups like those at PSG and several in Eastern Europe for example, but in England I'm not so sure.

A commendable campaign though, all racism should be removed from the terraces.

[Simmo86]

First time ive ever heard that Auschwitz song, is anti semitic chanting really that big of a problem in this country?

[Fosse Boy]

First time ive ever heard that Auschwitz song, is anti semitic chanting really that big of a problem in this country?

Not that I was aware off. Know that Arsenal/West Ham/Chelsea have been known to give it the gas chamber noises shite before (have a mate who's West Ham and Jewish so that's horrible for him), and obviously all that horrific Nazi glorfication needs cutting out. But this video doesn't seem to have a problem with Spurs themselves using the term "Yids". Double standards maybe?

[Guest Bilo]

Not that I was aware off. Know that Arsenal/West Ham/Chelsea have been known to give it the gas chamber noises shite before (have a mate who's West Ham and Jewish so that's horrible for him), and obviously all that horrific Nazi glorfication needs cutting out. But this video doesn't seem to have a problem with Spurs themselves using the term "Yids". Double standards maybe?

It's a complicated issue in my opinion.

If they are using the term as a means of disarming those who use it against them, it could be argued that it becomes reduced in power. There are precedents to this with some black people referring to one another by the N Word for example. In this instance, especially if they happen to be a Jewish Tottenham fan, I'd be reluctant to condemn it too strongly.

The problem comes when they are not Jewish and do not realise quite how offensive the word is when used by those outside of the Jewish faith. Again referring back to the black people issue, if one black person calls another by the N Word it's considered absolutely nowhere near as offensive as a white person using the term. There is also the problem of fans thinking, 'well they call themselves Yids, so let's up the ante by singing about Auschwitz' that it escalates.

I'm actually doubtful that anti-Semitism on the terraces is as big a problem as, say, Islamophobia. We all know that the EDL is an Islamophobic organisation comprised largely of football fans, and it can boast thousands of supporters. If there were however attempts to form an anti-Semitic group among the same demographic, it would be very unlikely to attract nearly as many people.

Don't get me wrong, I do think anti-Semitism is a bigger problem in this country than many people realise, but football fans are largely the wrong demographic to target.

[Simmo86]

Not that I was aware off. Know that Arsenal/West Ham/Chelsea have been known to give it the gas chamber noises shite before (have a mate who's West Ham and Jewish so that's horrible for him), and obviously all that horrific Nazi glorfication needs cutting out. But this video doesn't seem to have a problem with Spurs themselves using the term "Yids". Double standards maybe?

For sure. Looking at the comments on Youtube most of the Spurs fans (jewish and not jewish) are saying they don't find it offensive.

[Guest Bilo]

No. Yid is NOT offensive.

I'm Jewish and I'm a Spurs fan. We call ourselves Yids to reclaim the word. It's a badge of recognition and honour, it's our label for ourselves and Jew and non-Jew Spurs fans use it with pride.

If some are offended then I'm glad we live in a country where we CAN offend each other.

But I will not accept real racists preventing me using a word just because they use it in a derogatory manner. I have the right to call myself what I want - how dare anyone stop that.

In a sense, I find it quite difficult to argue with that. As I say, this is a very complex issue.

[Bert]

That's a well put together video that, Bert. Congrats.

Come again mate?!

[lcfc_jme]

Come again mate?!

"Film" was directed by Robert Young, mate. Probably shows that I'm the only one who watched the entire thing until the end.

[Bert]

Ah right! Forgot to tell you all that it's my new line if work

[MikeyT]

Well, i'm not Jewish but what they were chanting was disgusting and i did find it offensive. Not a braincell among them (the few that were chanting, not all Spurs fans obviously).

[Guest MattP]

Benayoun recieves anti-semitic abuse on tour...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/28/chelsea-yossi-benayoun-malaysia

Chelsea have lodged a formal complaint with the Malaysian Football Association alleging that the club's Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun was the subject of antisemitic abuse during last week's friendly in Kuala Lumpur.

Large sections of the 84,980 crowd at the Bukit Jalil national stadium booed and jeered Benayoun's every touch in Chelsea's 1-0 victory over a Malaysian XI. The 30-year-old, one of the first Israelis to play in the country, did not complain at the time and was substituted at the interval along with all the starting XI. Malaysia, which is 60% Muslim and strongly supports the Palestinian people, does not recognise Israel and maintains no diplomatic ties with the state.

Chelsea had initially been uncertain whether the abuse was antisemitic, with Benayoun having committed a foul early in the game which might have provoked some level of reaction among the crowd. They had therefore not pursued the matter immediately after the game. The Israeli's team-mate José Bosingwa, a Portugal international, was also jeered following a bad tackle later in the first half.

But, having since conducted inquiries into the nature of the chants, Chelsea have determined that the abuse was antisemitic and have written in complaint to the Malaysian FA. "Notwithstanding most fans behaving appropriately on the night, we believe Yossi was subjected to antisemitic abuse by a number of supporters at the game," a spokesman said. "Such behaviour is offensive, totally unacceptable and has no place in football.

"The club did not make representations at the time as it was initially unclear as to the nature of the abuse Yossi received, as several players from both teams experienced similar treatment, sometimes louder and longer. However, having taken time to consider the issue fully, it has become apparent that a formal complaint was necessary.

"Our stay in Malaysia was on the whole a very positive experience for all the team on the tour. It is a shame, therefore, that the behaviour of a minority of supporters is also a memory we take away."

The former Malaysian FA official Peter Velappan, who was once a general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, was quoted last week admitting the abuse was regrettable, if hard to prevent. "It is of course unsporting," he said. "This is quite rampant in many of the European countries ... [but] especially in [multiracial] Malaysia we are supposed to set an example."

[Guest MattP]

Just saw the original video....bizarre, I've only ever heard the term used by Spurs fans themselves as self -reference.

Does that mean they dont sing "Jermaine Defoeeee, he is a yiddoooo" anymore?

[ramboacdc]

i had never heard of that word until today!

its against the law to call someone it? guess its illegal to use the N word or P word then too?

words eh? what *****.