SUPER LEAGUE PLAN TRIGGERS HATE
THE PROPOSAL by football’s top clubs for a European Super League has prompted an outpouring of antisemitic abuse on social media, in which Jews are blamed for “ruining football”.
The plan for the football competition – with six of England’s top clubs poised to take part – disintegrated this week.
But when the news broke of the proposal to launch the league, many public figures, including the Prime Minister, expressed concern over what would happen to the domestic game.
However, some users on Twitter took things further. In several posts, the writers blamed Jews for the situation. One user wrote: “Notably, most of the owners of these ‘big’ football clubs pushing for a Super League are Jews, including Roman Abramovic [sic] and the Glazers.
“Jews are ruining football, they don’t give a f*** about the Gentile fans.”
Roman Abramovich is the owner of Chelsea FC, one of the clubs that was due to take part in the new league, while American family the Glazers
own Manchester United, another club involved in the plans. Tottenham Hotspur – chaired by Daniel Levy – Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal were the other English clubs involved. Another Twitter user wrote: “All this talk of the European Super League.
It’s jew rats behind it. All money grabbing c***s. It’s no wonder that people hate them as much as the muslims.”
This post was illustrated with a vicious antisemitic cartoon.
In another post, a user wrote: “Them 3 fat AMERICAN C***S YOU F ****** BASTARDS. And as for that Jew levy your family should have been gassed.” Someone else declared: “Hey Zionists it’s not all about money you suckers.”
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The beautiful game has some very hideous fans, and they are out in force on social media objecting in the most grotesque fashion to the possible launch of a new European Super League. No controversy, however great the passions it may stir, can justify the horrendous antisemitic abuse meted out by some Twitter users towards football clubs and their owners.
“The Premier League, the clubs and social media networks have a responsibility to remove this material immediately and punish the offenders with bans from attending matches. This minority of perpetrators bring shame to the majority of fans who want to see racism expelled from football.”
Mr Levy was also targeted with racial abuse after Tottenham lost to Manchester United earlier this month— the club has reported this attack to the police and Twitter.