Reports of anti-Jewish verbal abuse from West Ham fans comes shortly after last week’s shocking attack on visiting Spurs fans at an Italian bar in the run up to the team’s match against Lazio. Two Italians have been charged with attempted murder following the violence.
Spurs have close ties with north London’s Jewish community and loutish chanting of casual racism from opposing team’s fans have been commonplace over the years. However, the FA plans to investigate this weekend’s taunts which were deemed particularly offensive.
According to the Mirror, West Ham fans shouted “Adolf Hitler’s coming to get you” and, in reference to last week’s incident in Rome, chanted “viva-Lazio” and “Can we stab you every week”.
Video evidence of the chanting will be investigated by representatives of both clubs with a promise to identify the fans involved.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas said “I prefer not to mar the performance with a situation like this…You know the animosity there is between Tottenham and West Ham and as long as it doesn’t reach stupidity it is a great, great rivalry of two London clubs.”
Spurs won yesterday’s game 3-1 against West Ham.
Main image: Spur’s Gareth Bale scores against West Ham during their Premier League match at White Hart Lane, North London (Getty images)
