Chelsea Football Club, one of the most successful and popular teams in England, has announced the launch of its first Jewish supporters group, following the footsteps of its rival Arsenal. The group aims to celebrate Jewish culture and identity, and work closely with the club on initiatives and campaigns to help ensure Chelsea FC is a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone.
A timely launch for Rosh Hashanah
The club timed the launch of its Jewish supporters group to coincide with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which began on Friday evening. The club said in its announcement that it was delighted to launch the group, with the opportunity to become a member already open. The group will hold its first event on Dec. 11, during Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.
The founder of the group, Stephen Nelken, said that he was a lifelong Chelsea fan and that he was impressed and proud of the work the club had done to combat antisemitism and discrimination. He said that the intention in founding the group was to celebrate Jewish identity, support the excellent work the club is doing and encourage like-minded fans to come together to support Chelsea.
A pioneering effort to eradicate antisemitism from football and society
Chelsea FC has been at the forefront of fighting antisemitism in football and society, under its former owner, Russian Jewish oligarch Roman Abramovich. The club partnered with the Anti-Defamation League in 2021 and painted a commemorative mural of Jewish soccer players who were sent to Auschwitz outside of its Stamford Bridge stadium. The club also sent fans caught engaging in antisemitic behavior to education tours at the Auschwitz memorial and museum.
The club’s efforts have been recognized and applauded by various organizations and individuals, including Lord John Mann, the United Kingdom’s antisemitism envoy. He said that he was pleased to see the creation of Chelsea FC’s first Jewish supporters group and that it would provide a brilliant opportunity for Jewish fans to celebrate their culture while enjoying the sport they love. He also urged other football clubs to follow suit and create their own Jewish fan groups.
A response to the rising instances of antisemitism among fans
The launch of the Jewish supporters group comes as a response to the rising instances of antisemitism among football fans in recent years. Chelsea fans were caught chanting antisemitic songs at a match just days after launching an anti-hate campaign in 2018. The club condemned the behavior and vowed to take action against those responsible.
Chelsea’s cross-town rival Arsenal also launched its own Jewish fan group in April as part of its efforts to combat antisemitism. Both teams have dealt with antisemitic incidents among fans in recent years. Arsenal’s Jewish fan group said that it wanted to create a safe space for Jewish fans and educate others about Jewish culture and history.
The creation of these fan groups shows that football clubs are taking steps to address the problem of antisemitism and promote diversity and inclusion among their supporters. It also shows that Jewish fans are not alone and that they have a voice and a place in the football community.
