BELGIUM (VINnews) — Many are expressing outrage after footage emerged of a plane full of European soccer fans singing a vile anti-semitic chant on a Belgium-bound flight as a Chassidic man makes his way down the aisle.
The group of offenders were supporters of the West Ham soccer team. The vile chat they sang was a reference to Tottenham, whose team is one of West Ham’s biggest rivals. Tottenham is also traditionally home to a large Jewish community.
The clip sparked outrage online, causing people to call for the men to be arrested, as well as 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 also weighed in, writing ‘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 United released an official statement condemning the despicable actions caught on film, saying “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. The Club is liaising with the airline and relevant authorities to identify the individuals.”
West Ham fans singing anti Tottenham songs to a Jewish man on a flight to Belgium today#WHUFC #WestHam pic.twitter.com/AhRk1svzEr
— Away Day Bible (@AwayDayBible) November 4, 2021
As reported by Vos Iz Neias