Tottenham Hotspur ask fans' views on 'the Y-word'

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has launched its consultation of fans on the use of “Yid”.

The term has been sung by members of the club’s fanbase for decades – initially in defiant response to it being used in a derogatory sense by rival fans.

The survey asked fans whether they agreed with excerpts on the “Y-word” from a series of newspaper articles – including a JC opinion piece by Gerald Jacobs, and a Times article by David Aaronovitch.

Respondents were also quizzed on whether they feel the use of the term effectively deflects or attracts antisemitic abuse, and whether it contributes to a lack of clarity over what constitutes antisemitic abuse.

The survey closes on Sunday August 18.

Three Spurs fans were arrested in 2014 for using "Yid" at a Europa League game during the last attempted crackdown by authorities. The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued these cases.

The issue resurfaced last season after antisemitic language was allegedly used by Chelsea and Arsenal fans during matches.

The World Jewish Congress, the Board of Deputies, Community Security Trust (CST) and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) have all called on the club to clamp down on fans using the word to describe themselves in match chants.

Tottenham Hotspurs Football Club itself has a “zero-tolerance position” regarding antisemitism, but has insisted that fans' use of that word has never been “intended to cause offence”.

Earlier this year the club said that a re-assessment of the use of "Yid" can only take place "within the context of a total clampdown on unacceptable antisemitism".