No-hate plea to the fans
TOTTENHAM and Chelsea have pleaded with fans to behave at the Carabao Cup semi-final clash at Wembley tonight, as police warned of a “zero tolerance” policy to anti-Semitic chanting.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino and his Chelsea counterpart Maurizio Sarri begged supporters to show restraint after a string of high-profile incidents involving the Blues recently.
Chelsea will take their full allocation of 5,000 followers and Tottenham have urged fans to report any incidents of racism to the nearest steward.
Pochettino said: “The fans need to support their teams, nothing else. That is the most important thing. They need to create a good atmosphere and not think about the emotion of hating each other.”
Sarri said: “We need the support of our fans but we would like to have their support for us, not against the opponents.”
He added the players also had a responsibility to behave at Wembley.
“They can do something on the pitch. They have to think only about playing to try to get a result,” said Sarri. “They can influence
the fans with what they do on the pitch.”
Scotland Yard will issue a zero-tolerance warning to fans amid heightened checks for anti-Semitic chanting during the game.
Police are understood to be supportive of Chelsea’s plan to take their own stewards to Wembley, having vowed to eject any supporters heard singing anti-Jewish or racist sentiment.
The level of security and policing provided by Tottenham and Wembley was already due to be higher than usual.
Chelsea twice issued statements condemning their own fans in December after offensive chants were heard, and four were suspended after allegations of racist abuse.
The Stamford Bridge club have been liaising with Tottenham and Scotland Yard since the semi-final draw was made. Visiting stewards will have access to the CCTV system to identify any incidents during the game.
Chelsea are already facing the threat of a partial stadium closure with UEFA investigating allegations of their fans singing anti-Semitic songs during a Europa League game against MOL Vidi in Budapest five days after Raheem Sterling had been subjected to alleged racism from home fans during Manchester City’s visit to the Bridge.
Tottenham have also been urged to take a stand against the use of the word “Yid” by their own fans, by the World Jewish Congress and the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Chelsea star Eden Hazard said: “I want people to remember the game for the right reasons. These sort of fans [who sing anti-Semitic songs] are not fans for me. They come to the stadium just to say something.”
Midfielder Cesc Fabregas, absent from training yesterday, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Monaco, but the transfer has not yet been finalised because Chelsea want £10million for the 31-year-old, who has six months left on his contract. The Blues are lining up a £45m move for Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella as his replacement.