Tottenham Hotspur have today released a statement condemning the use of the "Y-word", saying they believe it's "time to reassess" the use of it.
The north London football club held supporter focus groups about the use of the "Y-word", which concluded in the summer of 2020.
"We are living in times of heightened awareness of cultural appropriation and sensitivities. It is therefore crucial to the values of our club and our fans that we are even more mindful of the controversial nature of this term", the club said in a statement.
The "Y-word" is a pejorative term or insult for Jewish people, which is used ironically by Tottenham fans.
Some of the club's key findings revealed:
- Members of our fanbase feel uncomfortable with the "Y-word's" continued use at matches
- Supporters who were prepared to defend their position on why they use the term expressed an openness to its use being reduced if it caused offence to fellow fans
- Supporters, especially those of a younger generation, are often unaware of the term's meaning and its historical context when chanting it
- That now, more than ever, is the time to reassess and reconsider its ongoing use
In 2019, the club found that 33% of respondents in a survey used the "Y-word" in a footballing context, while almost half of the people who took part wanted to see the word used less, or not at all.
In the statement, Tottenham added: "As a club, we always strive to create a welcoming environment that embraces all our fans so that every one of our supporters can feel included in the matchday experience.
"It is clear the use of this term does not always make this possible, regardless of context and intention, and that there is a growing desire and acknowledgment from supporters that the Y-word should be used less or stop being used altogether."
"Antisemitism remains a serious issue in football and more needs to be done to combat it. We believe that antisemitic abuse must be given the same zero tolerance that other forms of discriminatory behaviour receive," they added.
Speaking to Sky News in 2020, Jewish comedian David Baddiel said: "The vast majority of fans of the club, including those who self-designate as 'Y-words', are not Jewish and therefore have no right of 'reclamation'".
Record number of antisemitic incidents last year
The Community Security Trust (CST) yesterday reported a record number of antisemitic incidents in 2021 in their most recent findings.
A spokesperson for the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism told Sky News: "We applaud Tottenham for tackling this sensitive issue.
"More and more fans from other clubs are using the term as a form of abuse towards Spurs players, staff and fans, and are dangerously conflating their adversarial view of Tottenham with their perception of the Jewish community.
"In the meantime, other football clubs must urgently clamp down on the use of the phrase by their supporters as a form of abuse towards Spurs fans, and as a racist epithet against ordinary Jews."
FAQs
The review, which began in 2019, received more than 23,000 responses. It found that there was a "growing desire" among fans to stop the use of the word, with 94% acknowledging it could be racist towards Jewish people.
What is the Tottenham statement on Y word? ›
After conducting a range of supporter focus groups, Tottenham Hotspur have said they feel it's time to "move on" from associating the "Y-word" with the club. Tottenham Hotspur have today released a statement condemning the use of the "Y-word", saying they believe it's "time to reassess" the use of it.
What is the y word? ›
The word Yid (/ˈjiːd/; Yiddish: איד), also known as the Y-word, is a Jewish ethnonym of Yiddish origin. It is used as an autonym within the Ashkenazi Jewish community, and also used as slang by European football fans, antisemites, and others.
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Founded in 1882, Tottenham Hotspur's emblem is a co*ckerel standing upon a football, with the Latin motto Audere est Facere ("to dare is to do").
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Authorities in the US accused Lewis of insider trading in July this year. He is awaiting trial. Joe Lewis was removed as “a person with significant control” of Spurs in late 2022, leaving the club under the watch of Daniel Levy, who owns a 29.88 per cent stake in ENIC with members of his family.
Where did the letter Y come from? ›
The form of the modern letter Y is derived from the Greek letter upsilon. It dates back to the Latin of the first century BC, when upsilon was introduced a second time, this time with its "foot" to distinguish it.
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Skip to main content Why do Tottenham get called “Spurs” on FPL when other teams aren't named with their nickname? : r/FantasyPL.
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Some of the commonly used Y Words For Kids are yes, you, year, yummy, yacht, yolk, yelp, yahoo, young, yesterday, yell, yum, yardstick, yellow, yuck, Yemen, yard, yards, yawn, yeehaw, yoghurt, etc.
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They have an incredible tradition ... been around since 1882. Spurs were the first British team to win a major European trophy, 1963 European Cup Winners Cup. They have won the FA cup, the oldest single elimination tournament in world football (1871) eight times.
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Presented with a megaphone on a balcony outside their studios, KSI made no mistake taking the opportunity to show his love for the Premier League leaders. "What do we think of Tottenham?" he cried to the fans below, before being greeted with the classic response of: "S***!"
In 1884 the club was renamed Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, as another club from London was called Hotspur FC and their mail had been mistakenly delivered to north London and vice versa. This confusion would not do. The other Hotspur were based in Merton, Wimbledon and were formed in 1878.
What is the motto of Tottenham Hotspur quotes? ›
With a co*ckerel standing proudly above the Latin motto “audere est facere”, meaning “to dare is to do”, Tottenham Hotspur's traditional crest reflects the attitude of the club.
What is Tottenham's mascot? ›
Tottenham Hotspur have sported a co*ckerel on the club crest since the 1921 FA Cup final. The history of the co*ckerel is similar to the history of the Spurs nickname in regards to the fact that they both began with Harry Hotspur.
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The club report that its net debt as of June 2023 was £677.4m. More then 90% of £851.2m borrowings are at fixed rates, with an average interest rate of 2.79%. “We expect commercial revenues to rise from third-party events, although this will not compensate for the lack of European football this season,” Levy wrote.
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Lord Sugar was the club's previous owner. He first sold his 29.9 per cent stake to ENIC for £22m in 2000 before finally leaving the club when he sold his remaining shares of 13 per cent for £25m.
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While Spurs' net debt has reduced to £ 626 million, the football debt, which is a UEFA calculation based on cash, borrowings and net transfer fees owed to other parties, was £ 952 million.
What is the origin of the word Tottenham? ›
Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book. 'Tota's hamlet', it is thought, developed into 'Tottenham'. The settlement was recorded in the Domesday Book as Toteham, in the ancient hundred of Edmonton.
What is the Netflix show about Tottenham? ›
All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur.
Why is the Tottenham logo? ›
Rather like co*ckney rhyming slang's two-part association – as in dog, dog and bone, phone – the co*ckerel was adopted because Tottenham Hotspur were Spurs and spurs were worn by fighting co*cks. Drawing on the imagery was an indication of how the Club was being projected in the arena of popular culture.
