A backlash against the proposed European Super League, a new professional soccer league announced on Sunday, has triggered a wave of anti-Semitic hate online.
Soccer fans who oppose the ESL blamed Jews for “ruining” soccer, targeting Jewish owners of the clubs involved. One Twitter user wrote: “Notably, most of the owners of these ‘big’ football clubs pushing for a Super League are Jews … Jews are ruining football, they don’t give a f*** about the Gentile fans.”
Another Twitter user posted an anti-Semitic cartoon and wrote: “All this talk of the European Super League. It’s jew rats behind it. All money grabbing c***s. It’s no wonder that people hate them as much as the muslims.”
A separate tweet said, “Them 3 fat AMERICAN C***S YOU F***ING BASTARDS. And as for that Jew levy, your family should have been gassed.” Another stated, “Hey Zionists it’s not all about money you suckers.”
Six British soccer clubs—Manchester City, Chelsea FC, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur—originally committed to join the new league, along with six clubs from Spain and Italy. However, after an outpouring of negative reactions from fans, soccer officials and even government figures, it appears that the proposed league is on the verge of collapse.
Manchester United is owned by the Glazers, an American Jewish family, and Tottenham is chaired by Jewish businessman Daniel Levy. Joel Glazer was expected to be vice chairman of the new Super League, according to The Jewish Chronicle.
Chelsea FC, owned by Jewish billionaire Roman Abramovich, pulled out of the league after seeing the negative global reaction it received.
“The beautiful game has some very hideous fans, and they are out in force on social media objecting in the most grotesque fashion to the possible launch of a new European Super League,” said a spokesman for the U.K.-based Campaign Against Antisemitism.
“No controversy, however great the passions it may stir, can justify the horrendous anti-Semitic abuse meted out by some Twitter users towards football clubs and their owners,” it added.
As of Wednesday, nine of the 12 teams originally involved in forming the league have withdrawn.
