West Ham slams ‘anti-Palestine’ chant directed at Israeli soccer player Manor Solomon
English soccer club says fans must be able to enjoy game ‘without fear, discrimination or abuse’; Israeli fan club backs message, says player should be judged only on performance
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English Championship soccer club West Ham warned fans on Thursday not to sing an “offensive and divisive” chant about Israeli winger Manor Solomon that was heard during their season-opening game against Burnley.
In a statement, West Ham said it was aware that the chant relating to Solomon, which contained an “anti-Palestine message,” was being sung by some of the away supporters at Burnley’s Turf Moor stadium in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw.
Video of the chant shows fans appearing to sing, “Manor Solomon’s on my mind and he hates Palestine.” Fans of one of Solomon’s previous clubs, Leeds United, were filmed singing a similar chant in 2024.
West Ham said in a statement they want to “remind supporters of the responsibility we all hold to represent the club in the right way” and that “each and every supporter is an ambassador.”
Solomon, 27, joined the East London club earlier this month from Tottenham on an initial three-year contract, with the option of a further year, and scored in the draw at Burnley.
Ahead of West Ham’s first home Championship game of the season against Charlton Athletic at the London Stadium on Saturday, the club issued an appeal to their fans.
“Regardless of their background, every supporter within our diverse fanbase should also be free to enjoy watching their team play football without fear, discrimination or abuse,” the West Ham statement added. “And we remain committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe, respected and included.”
West Ham fans signing a chant for Israeli player Manor Solomon ????
“Manor Solomon’s on my mind & he hates the Palestine” pic.twitter.com/aMLjy9LoLd
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) August 16, 2026
The club continued: “We encourage our supporters to sing loud and proud about their football club and the players wearing the claret and blue shirt — but never in a way that creates division or causes offence among fellow fans.”
Solomon, from the central city of Kfar Saba, is a former player in Israel’s top soccer league and has played 49 times for Israel.
He previously played for Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine before moving on loan to Fulham, and he was also part of the Leeds team that won the Championship to earn promotion to the Premier League, the top league in England, in the 2024-25 season.
The Israeli fan club of West Ham, known as the Israeli Hammers, said it “fully” supports the team’s position and discourages any hate-filled chants.
“As the Israeli Hammers, we don’t encourage hatred towards Palestinians, or towards any group of people. Football should bring people together, and our message has always been one of peace, respect and support for West Ham,” the Israeli Hammers said in a statement cited by media outlets. “We also believe Manor should be treated first and foremost as what he is: a footballer.”
The Israeli Hammers, however, pointed out that it is “important to acknowledge the amount of hostility and abuse, including antisemitic abuse, Manor has received online since signing for West Ham, much of it directed at him simply because he is Israeli.”
In January, Manor was met with hatred when he was transferred to the Italian team ACF Fiorentina. A local politician vowed that he was “not welcome in Florence” and “cannot represent our city,” though his remarks sparked serious backlash.
In September 2025, Solomon faced chants of “Israelis are murderers” when he was on loan to Spanish club Villarreal in a match against Sevilla FC in Seville, Spain.
The Times of Israel Community.