BUDAPEST • Chelsea's reputation took another withering blow on Thursday, with the club condemning their own fans after they were heard singing anti-Semitic chants in Hungary, just days after four fans were suspended for the alleged racial abuse of Raheem Sterling.
This was their first match since last Saturday's Premier League victory over Manchester City, which was overshadowed by the vitriol directed at the Englishman.
But, just minutes into their Europa League dead rubber at Vidi, the away supporters were heard singing a derogatory chant about London rivals Tottenham, who are known to have a significant Jewish following.
Maurizio Sarri's men were attempting to put the Sterling controversy behind them but instead, the Group L winners, who had already qualified for the last 32, were left facing another discrimination storm following the 2-2 draw.
Afterwards, the Premier League club issued a strongly-worded statement, saying: "Anti-Semitism and any other kind of race-related or religious hatred is abhorrent to this club and the overwhelming majority of our fans.
"It has no place at Chelsea or in any of our communities. We have stated this loud and clear on many occasions from the owner, the board, coaches and players.
"Any individual that can't summon the brainpower to comprehend this simple message and are found to have shamed the club by using anti-Semitic or racist words or actions will face the strongest possible action from the club."
EDUCATE AND REFORM
If you just ban people, you will never change their behaviour. This policy gives them the chance to realise what they have done, to make them want to behave better.
BRUCE BUCK, Chelsea chief, on sending racist fans to concentration camps.
Uefa said that it would wait to receive official reports before launching an investigation.
"As is standard procedure, we will be waiting for official reports from the game before deciding if any action/investigation into any alleged misbehaviour should be launched," a statement from European football's governing body read.
The Blues have long had a history of their fans making anti-Semitic taunts towards Spurs supporters, and the club were forced to make a public statement condemning their actions in the most recent high-profile case in October.
In January, Chelsea announced a new campaign, supported by their Russian-Jewish owner Roman Abramovich, to "raise awareness of and educate our players, staff, fans and the wider community about anti-Semitism in football".
The club also told The Sun in October that they intend to send racist supporters on trips to Auschwitz, the former Nazi concentration camp, instead of imposing banning orders.
In an interview with the paper, Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck then said: "If you just ban people, you will never change their behaviour.
"This policy gives them the chance to realise what they have done, to make them want to behave better."
REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes critics have been too quick to write off his side's chances of defending the Premier League crown,
Guardiola predicts roller-coaster title run-in after
Password requirements: 6 to 30 characters long; ASCII characters only (characters found on a standard US keyboard); must contain at least 4 different symbols;
Report Ad
Check Out Career Tops on eBay. Fill Your Cart With Color Today!
Football: Solskjaer 'confident' of Man United Champions
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 07, 2019, with the headline 'Players to watch in France'. Print Edition | Subscribe
Women's World Cup 2019: Here are the top 10 players to watch
Nathan Ake strikes late to help Bournemouth sink nine-man Tottenham. Premier League. May 5, 2019 8:04am MORE FOOTBALL NEWS.
Ake strikes late to sink nine-man Spurs
Socceroos bounce back to knock Palestine out. Apostolos Giannou (right) rising to nod in Australia's third goal in the Socceroos' 3-0 Asian Cup Group B win over Palestine yesterday.
Socceroos bounce back at the Asian Cup with Palestine win
Dominic Fifield, The Guardian | Raheem Sterling in action for Manchester City against Chelsea at the weekend. Getty Images. Featured Image Chelsea face the partial closure of Stamford Bridge in the Europa League after Uefa opened disciplinary proceedings over allegations that their travelling supporters engaged in racist chanting during the draw at Vidi last month.
Chelsea facing partial Stamford Bridge closure in Europa
Apr 20, 2016 · B arcelona bounced back from their worst run of La Liga defeats for 13 years in emphatic fashion as Luis Suarez scored four in an 8-0 thrashing of Deportivo la Coruna on Wednesday. Ivan Rakitic, Lionel Messi, Marc Bartra and Neymar were also on target as Barca reasserted their control on the Spanish title race.
Barça celebrates the 2018/19 LaLiga title at Camp Nou - YouTube
LONDON (REUTERS) - Ajax Amsterdam took a massive stride towards a first Champions League final for 23 years as Donny van de Beek's early goal earned a 1-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg
Van de Beek gives Ajax edge over Spurs in semi-final
LONDON (AFP) - Eden Hazard got here to Maurizio Sarri's rescue as the Chelsea megastar's superb late strike earned a 1-1 draw against Wolves on Sunday (March 10). Sarri's facet were seconds clear of another harmful defeat after Raul Jimenez positioned Wolves ahead at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard late show rescues Chelsea in Wolves draw - Khaleej Times
Tottenham Hotspur's Moussa Sissoko did not realise his side had advanced to the Champions League semi-finals until a member of the coaching staff informed him in the dressing room that Manchester
Football: Sissoko unaware Tottenham had advanced to Champions
Pele will have an operation to remove a 'ureteral stone,' his doctors said Wednesday, a day after the football great returned to Brazil following treatment in a Paris hospital for an infection. The 78-year-old was admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo for more tests after arriving in
Pele to have urinary tract surgery in Brazil » Manila
But with nine changes to the side that beat Newcastle United in midweek, United's fourth straight Premier League win since Solskjaer replaced sacked Jose Mourinho, it was an unconvincing display
Solskjaer unimpressed as United ease past Reading in Cup
Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League race Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp applauds at the end of their English Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on May 12, 2019.
Premier League » News » Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could'
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen