Arsenal must act after Robert Peston tweets he is “ashamed to be Arsenal supporter” after witnessing antisemitism at match
ITV news reporter, Robert Peston, has tweeted that he feels ashamed to support Arsenal after attending the club’s Carabao Cup Final match against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.
Mr Peston tweeted: “One of those moments when I am ashamed to be Arsenal supporter on way to Wembley because moron gooners [Arsenal fans] singing antisemitic song about how they have foreskins & Spurs fans don’t. Well many of us truer supporters are circumcised as is their/our hero Ozil (I assume). Shut the f up”.
Spurs, the nickname for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, has traditionally enjoyed the support of a large number of Jewish football fans and Campaign Against Antisemitism has reported previously about clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham using antisemitic chants against Spurs fans. The song that Mr Peston is referring to includes the lyrics: “I’ve got a foreskin, haven’t you? F***ing Jew!”
In another tweet, Mr Peston wrote that he felt “racially abused by alleged fellow supporters”.
A spokesperson for Arsenal said: “We absolutely condemn any form of antisemitism at the club. We work hard to encourage diversity and inclusion through The Arsenal for Everyone programme and will continue to drive forward this campaign to our supporters.”
Though Arsenal’s opposition to antisemitism is very welcome, the club must now endeavour to identify and punish the individuals involved. We commend Mr Peston for exposing this disgraceful behaviour by Arsenal fans.