The chairman of the Chelsea soccer club has denounced fans’ anti-Semitic abuse of the new Israeli coach.
Avram Grant was named Chelsea’s coach last month, replacing the popular Jose Mourinho, who guided the London team for three years.
Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck wrote in the Sept. 29 match program, “We welcome all constructive points of view. But there have been a few which could be viewed as racist and anti-Semitic and that must stop immediately. This is one thing we will not tolerate whether in written correspondence, on the chat pages, on posters or banners or through singing and chanting. And it unfairly smears the reputation of the vast majority of Chelsea fans who rightly do not want to be associated with such activity. “
Grant is a close friend of Chelsea’s Russian Jewish billionaire owner, Roman Abramovich, and is a former coach of Israel’s national team.
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