Football Association investigates Block 109 over alleged pro-Hamas messages

The Football Association has launched an investigation into Block 109 over alleged pro-Hamas messages on social media.

Block 109 is a group of England fans and official members of the England Supporters Travel Club. The group takes its name from its seating position at Wembley Stadium.

In a group chat, one member of Block 109 reportedly responded to news of the government banning support for Hamas, the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group, by saying: “Can’t say anything these days without being thrown in jail. PC gone mad.”

A Jewish member of the group reportedly questioned that member on if he agreed with the Hamas charter, to which the member allegedly replied: “Spot on.” 

The Hamas charter calls for the genocide of all Jews worldwide and includes an infamous Hadith which states: “The Last Hour will not come until the Muslims fight against the Jews, until a Jew will hide himself behind a stone or a tree, and the stone or the tree will say: ‘O Muslim, there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him!’”

The Jewish member told the fellow member that he believed supporters of Hamas’ doctrine to be antisemites, to which the England fan responded: “I’ve been upgraded. Get in.”

When asked for a statement, Block 109 claimed that “there were no references to Hamas as part of these messages” and added that the exchange was “reviewed extensively with representatives of the Football Supporters’ Association, Kick It Out and Love Football Hate Racism.”

Last year, the Football Association adopted the International Definition of Antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to act against instances of anti-Jewish racism in all sports.