English football team Leeds United have released a statement condemning a chant with an “anti-Palestine lyric”, aimed at their Israeli player Manor Solomon.
And they are serious about stamping it out.
Leeds United again condemn the football chant containing an anti-Palestine lyric aimed at Manor Solomon, having already done so through comment to local and national media outlets in December.
Hate crime and discriminatory language or chanting is not acceptable at Leeds United and the club has a zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination abuse of all kinds.
The club has received a large number of complaints from Leeds United supporters regarding the chant and had hoped the initial strategy of condemning it through the media and working with supporter groups, would prevent this from happening in the future, but it has sadly become more prominent in recent matches, including at Elland Road.
After monitoring the situation at recent home games, the origins of the chant at Elland Road appear to come from the Norman Hunter South Stand, particularly in blocks FA5, FA6, SS5, SS6.
As a result, there will be an increased CCTV surveillance and stewarding presence in FA5, FA6, SS5 and SS6 at all home games between now and the end of the season and action will be taken against any person who participates in the chant, including the issuing of a club banning order.
Discriminatory language can be reported by contacting your nearest steward or discreetly via the Matchday Incident Text Service by texting LEEDS and your message to 60006.
Given what is at stake for the club in the weeks ahead, this is a time we need the fan base to be united, not divided.
Thank you for your co-operation.
And what’s this “anti-Palestine lyric”?
“Manor Solomon’s on my mind, and he hates Palestine.”
This to me is a very odd club statement, because – correct me if I am wrong – this is not an anti-Palestine lyric. It is an anti- Manor Solomon lyric or even an anti-Israeli lyric, implying we all hate palestinian Arabs.
Either way, Manor is winning over new fans with his performances, and is enjoying life at the club:
“So far, I’ve been feeling really good about everything. I’m really happy to be here, really happy with the fans and all aspects of the club and I just want to keep going.
“We have a really big goal ahead of us, we’re doing really well but we want to maintain it and make sure that we’re all celebrating at the end of the season.”
Declaring his delight at his player of the month award, Solomon said: “I really appreciate it. I feel the love and the warmth of the fans and I just want to make them happy, to keep going, to keep improving myself and to help the team as much as possible.”
