Arsenal monitoring group of season-ticket seats at the Emirates Stadium in ongoing antisemitism investigation
A supporter was accused of antisemitic ‘hissing’ and chants about ‘gassing Jews’ during last December’s north London derby
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal have not been able to identify the supporter accused of antisemitic “hissing” and chants about “gassing Jews” during last December’s north London derby, and believe the fan in question has not returned to the Emirates since the incident.
The club are continuing to monitor the season-ticketed seats from which the alleged incidents emanated. However, the original complainant – another supporter seated in the North Bank stand who alerted stewards during the match – did not want to take the case further.
Tottenham Hotspur have a large Jewish fanbase and the club has called for an urgent clampdown on antisemitism. Arsenal opened an investigation – as revealed by The Independent at the time – following the acrimonious Carabao Cup tie which also saw Spurs midfielder Dele Alli hit by a bottle thrown from the stands.
The man accused of antisemitic behaviour was involved in an altercation at the stadium before leaving the ground of his own accord. A group of seats at the Emirates were identified by Arsenal and continue to be surveyed closely, but the club believe he has stayed away.
Arsenal opened a fresh investigation last week into alleged racist abuse aimed at Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly during the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final, while Chelsea stopped fans from entering the stadium for their game against Slavia Prague after video emerged of Islamophobic chants about Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
Asked about the story from Chelsea, Arsenal forward Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang said: “I am really disappointed about that. I had the same problem here against Tottenham. When you are black like me it is really painful, I think, because we are in 2019 and obviously it is not good for football in England. Hopefully we will find a way to kick it out.”
Arsenal are concerned that supporters fear calling out the inappropriate behaviour of fellow fans, and have pointed to their alert service to ensure fans in the ground can make complaints anonymously.