West Ham soccer club bans two over antisemitic taunt on plane
Video shows supporters on way to match in Belgium singing offensive verses at man in ultra-Orthodox garb walking down aisle
West Ham has banned two supporters who were filmed singing an antisemitic song as a Jewish man walked down the aisle to take his seat on a plane.
A video was posted on social media on Thursday showing fans on a flight to Belgium singing the offensive song.
The fans on the flight were on their way to watch West Ham play Belgian side Genk in the Europa League.
The suspension of the fans from games is while police conduct their investigation.
Officers have arrested two men on suspicion of hate crimes, as they flew back to England.
“The arrest has been made in connection with our investigation of a video on social media of a man being subjected to harassment whilst taking his seat on board an aeroplane before it departed from Stansted Airport on 4th November,” Essex Police said in a statement Saturday after the second arrest.
The outcome of the case could lead to longer-term bans for the fans from the east London club, which has condemned the incident.
“I don’t see our football club being like that. We are a diverse football club. There’s no room for discrimination anywhere,” manager David Moyes said Friday, according to the Jewish News.
The Times of Israel Community.