Peter Herbert, Tackling Racism Right From the Heart of the Problem

Recently there have been many high profile racist incidents in the world of football. John Terrys' court case and subsequent FA hearing, Suarez with his nine game ban and the disgraceful scenes in Serbia, amongst other things. But to a group of people, known as the Society of Black Lawyers, the greatest of all these is Spurs fans referring to themselves as "Yids" or the "Yid Army". This society, led by a barrister called Peter Herbert, has enflamed many Spurs fans, Jewish or not.

Spurs have always had a large Jewish following, stretching back to the very beginnings of the club. I am not saying Spurs were or ever have been an exclusively Jewish club, that would be ridiculous, but Spurs have always been a multi-national and multi-faith club, that accepts fans of any creed or colour. In the early days, this was held against Spurs who constantly had anti-Semitic remarks thrown in their direction. Since then the term "Yid" has been used as a badge of honour, as ownership of what was once an oppressive phrase. It is chanted regularly at match days by Jewish and non-Jewish fans in a show of support against the disgusting anti-Semitic taunts which predeceeded the chants.

Spurs fans are still subject to anti-Semitism, when certain teams visit there is still the sound of hissing (simulating the sound of a gas chamber) from the away section in White Hart Lane. I have personally received abuse from people I don't know for being Jewish, despite the fact that I am not, for simply answering the question "which team do you support?" with "Tottenham Hotspur". Why should I not be able to turn it around, to use it as a badge of honour? Just because I am not Jewish myself, does not mean I should not align myself with their view point.

For a long while know I have been concerned about the state of anti-Semitism, not only in the UK but in the world at large. It seems to me that it is ok to be anti-Semitic, the world turns a blind, its ok to make Jew jokes and make a fool of the race, my point in evidence would be, could you ever image Channal 4 airing a show called "Muslim Mother of the Year" in which they found the most stereotypical Muslim mothers for the rest of the country to laugh at? No, I didn't think so, and nor could I.

Peter Herbert and his buddies in the SBL are, in my view using Spurs and the Jewish faith as a catalyst to get what they want, to get a Black Players Association and their other nine demands. To me this is the lowest form of anti-Semitism itself, they have no care about the Jewish faith, or the roots or the meaning of the word, if they did they would be working with Spurs to stop the chants from opposition fans, the chants that have the relevant intention to be classed as racist in a court of law, instead they are coming after the good guys, the guys who's only intention is defend a large section of their fans, and to own a term that was once used as an offence.

Not all Spurs fans like being called the "Yids", I think if we are all honest, we would rather have never been forced to use the term in the first place by bigoted opposition fans. And before anyone leaps in to say "that was a hundred years ago" or as Herbert so 'delicately' put it "this is not fifty years ago" (a time when anti-Semitism was rife, very appropriate words for a man who is supposed to be leading a non-racist revolution) the problem is still a very real one today (as discussed above) both in football and every day life. A citing point would be Polish and Ukrainian fans warning Spurs fans not to come to the Euros otherwise they would be attacked for following a Jewish club.

So no Mr Herbert OBE, we will not stop chanting "Yid Army", we will not stop calling ourselves "Yids", we are fighting for the good side, the side of right over wrong, if you and your little movement can stop anti-Semitism in football maybe the term "Yid" will fall away, and we will not feel the need to own it anymore, until that day, why should we be punished for the actions of racists?

PS - The response from Spurs and the Met Police who have both said there is no racist intention has been spot on. I can't see how any "prosecution" can be brought, and maybe more time should be spent stopping real racism, rather than escapades of self-publicity.

Please comment and add to the debate, all views are welcome and respected

If Only Harry Was Still in Charge...

If Harry was still in charge we would have signed Moutinho, Tevez, Balotelli and Cazorla.
If Harry was still in charge Modric would have rejected his dream move to Real Madrid, and continued to play in the heart of the Spurs midfield.
If Harry was still in charge Van der Vaart would not have wanted to move back to Germany, to be with his kid and stunning wife.
If Harry was still in charge we would have beaten Newcastle away.
If Harry was still in charge we would have beaten WBA at home.
If Harry was still in charge we would have beaten Norwich at home.
If Harry was still in charge we would have won the league already.


When Harry was in charge we signed Saha and Nelson.
When Harry was in charge Modric tried to force a move to Chelsea.
When Harry was in charge Van der Vaart was still a Spurs player, but who would honestly say no if Sylvia said to move to Germany?
When Harry was in charge we drew with Newcastle away.
When Harry was in charge we did beat WBA at home. 
When Harry was in charge we lost to Norwich at home.
When Harry was in charge we blew a 10 point lead over Arsenal.


For those who booed and chanted Harrys' name on Saturday. Get a grip, we are three games in with a new team, new players who will settle in and will be class. We know Defoe is not a loan striker, we know Livermore is not a playmaker, we would all have liked Van der Vaart to stay, but he didn't, he wanted to go, he was not forced out, Defoe has done a good job and will be an integral part of the team all season, Livermore is a promising youngster, he needs your support, not to be giving stick (which he was on Saturday). No one enjoyed the Norwich game but judge AVB on the results at the end of the season, or even better the end of next season, this is a new team that needs time to gel. Everyone who booed needs to have a long hard look at themselves, and decide if they are wearing the right shirt, judging a manager after three games, shouldn't you be at Stamford Bridge. Judging a youngster for a few miss placed passes, you should be at Old Trafford. Not singing then booing, you should be at the Emirates, you are not true Spurs fans.

Have a think about this next time you get the urge to sing "Harry Redknapps Blue and White Army" even though you never sang it when he was in charge, if the attitude of the fans carries on this way we will go the way of Blackburn, and it will be your fault, not the players, not AVB and not Daniel Levy.


#BackAVB