The continuing fallout from recent racist and allegedly racist incidents in the sport seem to be coming to a head and it seems that our stadium has been chosen as one of the battlegrounds. The Society of Black Lawyers (SBL) entered the fray after several Premier League players refused to wear Kick It Out t-shirts recently and now they're upping the ante. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20229332 There are various points in their plan that might be controversial, but there's one part that sticks out for us in particular, as they're basically forcing the club's hand: "The SBL also says it will report any anti-Semitic chants at Tottenham games to the Metropolitan Police unless the club and FA show they are acting. Peter Herbert, who chairs the SBL, said: "In discussions with members of the Jewish community, we were made aware that this practice is still continuing and it has to come to an end. "If neither Tottenham FC nor the FA are willing to take a stand then SBL will report the matter to the Metropolitan Police Service for investigation and, if necessary, prosecution. The report will be made if this behaviour does not cease by 20 November. We will have monitors in attendance to observe what occurs." This date happens to fall directly before West Ham visit the Lane and I personally doubt that's a coincidence. I'm sure that we're all aware of the unsavoury behaviour of some of their fans in this tie in the past. Page_Moss_Kopite brought this to my attention and I'd like to thank him for it. Thoughts? Good, bad, mixture?
Can't understand why Tottenham Hotspur FC would face an investigation? As a club, we're victimized by antisemitic abuse rather than dealing it out, to the point where we've turned that abuse into a positive. To suggest otherwise is absolutely absurd, and to attempt to punish the club for other teams abuse is equally as absurd.
Nah, I've been watching the US election. Looks like Romney's going to lose, thankfully. I tend to use this for highlights: http://www.101greatgoals.com/
"If neither Tottenham FC nor the FA are willing to take a stand" "The SBL has also issued an ultimatum to the Football Association and Tottenham Hotspur to deal with what it says is anti-Semitic abuse" They're the bits that confused me.
I thought that it was a reference to the behaviour of some of the away fans, but I can see what you mean. Not sure anyone could call the chants from our fans abuse, though.
I was listening to Scott Mills on radio one during his 'stupid street' bit. They were asking people on the street in this country!! who they were going to vote for. Honest to god they had idiots say 'Obama definitely', because they didn't know the other one, those (yes, there was more than one! )that answered were then asked, 'where' they were going to vote. They carried on saying things like 'from home' and 'online'!
No offence DL, but your lot are next in line. As I pointed out in the thread, I doubt that it's a coincidence that this ultimatum falls directly before the West Ham game.
This issue really annoys me. If we used the term "Yid" in a derogatory sense to try and humiliate the Jewish community, I'd understand the issue being brought up. However we were subjected to vile chants from opposition fans years ago and have since embraced the term "Yid" as a badge of honour rather than a mark of disrespect, it technically now ensures that any opposition fan won't use it as an insult as it'll fall on deaf ears. In a sense, a Tottenham fan using the term "Yid" to one another is similar to how a black person would say to "N*****" to another.
Thing is SoS, its not confined to fans in the ground, or their feelings, Jewish people not remotely interested in football can walk past outside and hear "YIDS!" or "YID ARMY!" at the tops of the voices of the Park Lane End, in fact you'd probably hear it in the next borough! Its these discussions in the community that could be whats kickstarted this again.
Incorrect, unless both Tottenham fans were Jewish. Assuming they aren't, it is more akin to a white guy using the term N****r to another white guy.
Err! who the **** are you coming here telling us what the rules are, its as SoS says. This is a thread about chanting and singing, you know noise, that thing you experience at away matches!
At the moment, they wouldn't hear a thing as WHL's been way too silent as of late! Again though, the Yids or Yid Army chants are sung with pride and not slander... Really don't see how this is a negative issue. Turning around what was abuse into an expression of pride is surely a commendable thing do to.
this is insane. Some common sense has to be used at least sometimes. So when we chant "yid army", assumingly including ourselves in said army, we are actually be racist....to ourselves? I better not put "British" on any forms i have to fill out in case i accidentally accuse myself of being xenophobic to myself
Disagree. A white guy has never before had the term "N*****" used against him as slander. Black people were called "N******" as a form of insult from white people. They then adopted it and used it as such, a badge of pride and an expression to relate to another black person, hence for example in many American films you hear the slang term "My N*****" from one black man to another. Tottenham fans were subject to abuse from opposition by being called Yids due to the large jewish community in the area. We've now adopted the term and used it as a way to express our pride and to ensure the term Yid is no longer used in a derogatory sense from people outside of the Tottenham and Jewish community.
Associations of Black Lawyers or Footballers or anything else come to that are in my view 'rascist' as would be an association of White Lawyers or Lawyers with Big Noses, Red Hair or Blue Eyes or anything else. Until we start acting together as human beings regardless of such differences then racism will continue.
I think you've missed my point mate, I know the whys and wherefore's behind our chanting, but it might be about the general public outside the ground not connected with football. If there's official complaint from outside sources it has to be followed up. Yes, I agree its not necessary from a football fans view, and would be horrified if we were barred from singing it, but in these times of ridiculous political correctness nothing will surprise me.
