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I’ll Sing What I Want

3 min read
by The Fighting Cock
So the “Y-word” debate has reared its head again with the FA releasing a statement saying that the word Yid “would be considered offensive by the reasonable observer” and that the term is “inappropriate in a football setting.” Cue the usual suspects lining up to stick the boot into the Tottenham fan base. The vile anti-Semitism […]

So the “Y-word” debate has reared its head again with the FA releasing a statement saying that the word Yid “would be considered offensive by the reasonable observer” and that the term is “inappropriate in a football setting.” Cue the usual suspects lining up to stick the boot into the Tottenham fan base.

Spurs SupportersThe vile anti-Semitism of some of our rivals excused because many of us choose to use the term Yid when referring to our club. Hissing, songs about Auschwitz, Hitler salutes, nah, the real issue is us calling Jermaine Defoe a “Yiddo.”

The arguments over the word have been gone over a million times and to be honest I’m not here to do that again. Others have put the different cases across more eloquently and convincingly than I can. What has really got to me about the FA’s statement is their attempt to frighten fans out of using the word.

The statement contains thinly veiled threats presented as advice; “Further, use of the term in a public setting could amount to a criminal offence, and leave those fans liable to prosecution and potentially a lengthy Football Banning Order.”

This particular line has been jumped on by the press. The Mail claimed; “Tottenham fans WILL face prosecution if they chant the ‘Y-word’ as FA issue stern warning” while Sky ran with; ‘Yid Army’ Chant: Spurs Fans Warned Of Charges.”

Well, thanks for the warning but as far as I’m concerned that’s a load of nonsense.

Last year, during the previous round of this never ending debate, after Peter Herbert said he was going to have us all arrested if we didn’t stop saying Yid by his arbitrary deadline, the Met Police confirmed that Spurs fans would NOT face prosecution for using the word. The Met advised Tottenham that chants such as ‘Yid Army’ would not lead to prosecution on the basis that it is used with no ‘deliberate intention to cause offence’. Maybe the FA knows something I don’t but as far as I’m aware, the law hasn’t changed since November.

On the issue of lengthy Football Banning Orders, which we could supposedly face, the law is quite clear; “For an order to be issued, it must be proved that the accused person has caused or contributed to football-related violence or disorder.” I’d like to see how using the term Yid falls into that definition.

[linequote]The Met advised Tottenham that chants such as ‘Yid Army’ would not lead to prosecution on the basis that it is used with no ‘deliberate intention to cause offence'[/linequote]

I don’t believe for a minute that the FA is unaware of the police’s stance on the use of Yid or that they don’t know what behaviour justifies a FBO. It would be scary if they were that inept. To me this is a deliberate attempt to frighten fans out of using the word. They know they have no actual power to stop us using it; the fact that their closing line talks simply about encouraging fans not to use the word is testament to this.

Nobody wants to be banned from watching football for the sake of singing “Yid Army” and the FA are trying to use this to their advantage. It’s underhand and it’s not on. I’d urge other fans to ignore the FA’s hyperbole. You’re not going to get prosecuted and you’re not going to get a banning order.

So, FA, until the laws change, I’m going to sing what I want and there’s nothing you can do about it.

[author name=”Paul Head” avatar=”https://twimg0-a.akamaihd.net/profile_images/1500524670/n532720102_2385269_1646.jpg” twitter=”PaulHead83″ tag=”PaulHead[/linequote]

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13 Comments

  1. chris
    13/09/2013 @ 9:48 am

    Too bloody right!
    This is about the FA wanting to be seen to be doing something about the whole racism, sexism, homophobia debate. They, of course, haven’t really got a clue and so picking on an easy target such as Spurs fans lets them say to the press, EUFA, FIFA and the world in general – “Hey look at us, we’re tough on racism!” ( and that should help the next time an England captain racially abuses another player)
    Another thought…Dear FA, I’ll consider stopping singing “Yiddo” when you stop the genuine anti-semitic abuse and hatred I hear at certain grounds every damn year.

  2. Iain
    13/09/2013 @ 9:50 am

    It’s really a non-issue. No-one cares except for the odd, non-Spurs supporting attention-seeker.

    It only becomes a problem if the FA chooses to go on about it. They’d be much wider just forgetting about it.

    • TMWNN
      13/09/2013 @ 10:14 am

      I agree, unless there is a bigger agenda here. The rowdier aspect of yesteryear’s football is not in line with how the marketing men have sold (quite literally) our game to a global audience. God forbid the new WASPs of the US take offence at a chant emanating from north London. The game is gradually and systematically being pulled from under the feet of the unwanted working class.

      • Iain
        13/09/2013 @ 10:53 am

        Don’t think Americans are allowed to complain about the Y word given all the rap records from the US I have to hear with the N word in them.

      • John
        18/09/2013 @ 8:35 pm

        Should get no complaints as the word Yid isn’t really used here in the USA. The only time I’ve even heard it spoken before following Spurs last year was in the movie Miller’s Crossing 20 or so year ago.

  3. TMWNN
    13/09/2013 @ 9:55 am

    “…considered offensive by the reasonable observer…”

    That would account for a large percentage of songs/chants. This is the thin end of what could be a very thick wedge. The ‘authorities’ have already taken far too much freedom away from fans. Time to stick a massive middle finger at them; sing it loudly and proudly.

    ps it’s ‘cue’.

  4. Chris Pelley
    13/09/2013 @ 10:08 am

    All they are doing is pushing us in a corner, which makes us come out “verbally” fighting and chanting it even more.
    How can they put a banning order on 32,000 supporters at the same time. Tottenham won’t be allowed to accept it.

  5. Bazza
    13/09/2013 @ 10:50 am

    Anyone want to bet we may well miss out on a top four spot this season because of a points deduction for not controling the fans?
    This is not rocket science. You can call yourself what you like in this wonderful England of ours. what you cant do is call other people what they dont like, or force others to call themselves what they dont like to be called.
    I like to call myself a Yid. Can any law change that? no. Much the same as if I wanted to call myself by any other name.
    If you like to call yourself a Yid then we can get together and call ourselves Yids. There is no law against it.

    While I dont mind others refuring to me as a Yid I do mind when they do so in a derogotory manner, is there a law against this? yes. I therefore expect to be protected by the authorties both football and state when this occures.
    To date I am unaware of any such protection from either and so for the future I intend to stand by my fellow fans until that is the case. At which time, maybe we can look at it again.
    For a chelsea fan to demand we change the way we behave so he doesnt have to listen to his own vile supporters is frankley unbelievable. He should first of all bring about the prosecution of his own supporters and show the world he is not just onother fan trying to pick on the opposition.

    • phil
      17/09/2013 @ 2:50 pm

      well said

  6. Ph01nk
    13/09/2013 @ 12:00 pm

    The words derived from the word for the ancient jewish language ‘yiddish’.
    Perhaps we should chant ‘yiddish army’.

  7. Miles 'Uni' Smith
    18/09/2013 @ 9:24 pm

    The definition of words is not sewn into the fabric of the universe, words are (usually) sounds or symbols that take on the meaning implied by the person using them at that time. There utility comes from the fact that we can agree on what we mean when we use specific words in specific circumstances. The word ‘Yid’ is short for ‘Yiddish’ (shock/horror) has been appropriated by spurs fans as a direct response to the anti-Semitism that they were experience due to Tottenham’s Jewish associations, to turn a racist word into a term of endearment which has effectively made it impossible to use that word as racism against Spurs fans. I honestly cannot think of anything more positive and more pro-Semite than that, every person that opposes racism frankly, ought be proud that such an event has occurred.

    I am sorry but context matters, if merely hearing a sound or seeing a symbol offends you or makes you feel uncomfortable: tough, get over it, seek professional help if need be. Whether or not a word or collection of them can be considered offensive is entirely based on their usage, is the wikipedia article for ‘Yid’ offensive? Of course it isn’t. Is Spurs’ fans chanting it racist? Errr, no.

    • Miles 'Uni' Smith
      18/09/2013 @ 9:26 pm

      I meant ‘their’, it ought be ‘experiencing’

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