Clubs joining forces to adopt IHRA’s terms of reference
Five Premier League clubs have joined Chelsea in their fight against anti-Semitism by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of the abuse.
West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, Burnley and Brighton have all pledged officially to use the definition in their working practices, with Arsenal and Everton also looking into signing up.
Ahead of tomorrow’s Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, The Sunday Telegraph asked every Premier League club whether they would follow Chelsea in adopting the IHRA definition which is already used by government and the police.
West Ham, who, like Chelsea, have had to deal with instances of anti-Semitism among supporters, were the first Premier League club to join their London rivals in adopting the definition.
A club spokesperson said: “West Ham is proud to adopt the IHRA definition and we will be marking Holocaust Memorial Day prior to our fixture against Liverpool on Wednesday. West Ham is unequivocal in its stance and has always taken a zero-tolerance policy to any form of discrimination.”
Tottenham, who have come under renewed pressure to tell their supporters to stop using the Y-word, are one of a number of clubs yet to sign up to the IHRA terms. They work within the Kick It Out guidelines on discrimination, which they believe adopts the IHRA definition.
Manchester United and Manchester City have no immediate plans to use the IHRA definition, but United have recently worked with the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Burnley plan to adopt the IHRA definition and echoed the call for all Premier League clubs to follow Chelsea’s lead on anti-Semitism. A spokesperson said: “For the club, we will need to go into the details and discuss with/agree with our equality, inclusivity and advisory group but in principle we will join this alliance. Chelsea Football Club is leading the way with any anti-Semitic work and the remainder of the Premier League clubs must join them.”
The Football Association has not adopted the IHRA definition, but does claim to refer to it when investigating any offence that could be considered to be anti-Semitic.
An FA spokesperson said: “We fully support any club which tackles antiSemitism and anti-Jewish abuse proactively. We continue to work with the police and other relevant authorities to combat all forms of discrimination and encourage anyone who believes that they have been the subject of, or witness to, discriminatory abuse to report it via the appropriate channels: The FA, our county FA network or via our partners at Kick It Out.”
‘West Ham is proud to adopt the definition and has always had a zero-tolerance policy to discrimination’