Racist chants hurled by Chelsea fans at Europa League clash
Further problems have arisen for Chelsea as their fans have again been accused of hurling racist and anti-Semitic chants during their Europa League match against Hungarian football club Vidi. It has not been long since Chelsea fans were accused of racially abusing Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, and this incident has now left the Blues' authority truly shaken. However, no official report has been lodged.
What exactly happened at the Groupama Arena in Budapest?
It was not long after the match started that a section of Chelsea supporters began to shout and sing an anti-Semitic song they usually direct at city rivals Tottenham. The chant goes, "Barcelona, Real Madrid, Tottenham are a bunch of Yids...Yiddos", and even after a lot of turmoil in the media and English football, the fans seemed proud of the culture they were propagating.
A word on various reactions to the matter
The matter will be investigated into by UEFA after the match referee files a report officially. Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has also strongly condemned the action, despite admitting that he is not well-versed enough to understand an English song. Kick It Out, an organization working towards inclusivity along with Chelsea, have added that they shall be looking into the matter along with the club.
A Chelsea spokesperson has released a statement
Chelsea have released a statement which condemns the incident, saying racial or religious discrimination has no place in the club. It also stated, "Any individuals that can't summon the brainpower to comprehend this simple message and are found to have shamed the club by using anti-Semitic or racist words or actions will face the strongest possible action from the club."
Chelsea have been taking steps to deal with the issue
Chelsea had taken certain fans and officials to Auschwitz in October to give them an educational tour on the harmful effects of anti-Semitism. Moreover, they fined four supporters for pushing a black person off a metro and chanting proudly about their racist tendencies. Chelsea are also now very careful in handing out away match tickets to avoid such unwarranted incidents.
Why the sudden increase in racial abuse from English fans?
An exact finger cannot be put on any particular thing which has suddenly instigated such racial abuse from Chelsea fans, but it has been stated by anti-racism campaigner Piara Powar that the Brexit referendum and its after effects surely have had a role to play. Even Aubameyang found a banana thrown at him during the recently concluded North London derby.
