A Jewish comedian has said a group of England fans asked him if he was ‘even from this country’ at the European Championship final at Wembley on Sunday.
Jolyon Rubinstein wrote on Twitter that a group of six men in their 50s spotted he was wearing a T-shirt with his name, ‘Rubinstein’, on the back as he was entering the stadium.
They asked him, “Are you even from this country?,” and added, “He’s a Jew”. This was followed by “laughs and jeers”.
I was racially abused last night as I was entering Wembley stadium. My shirt has Rubinstein on the back. I took my coat off & immediately: “Are you even from this country” & “he’s a Jew” followed by laughs & jeers by a group of 6 men in their 50’s.
— Jolyon Rubinstein (@JolyonRubs) July 12, 2021
Mr Rubinstein wrote: “I told them that my grandad fought the Nazis. They laughed. My message to them is that you will never win. That this team represents unity and diversity. You are the past. You’re dying out.”
He said that the experience had only “strengthened my anti-racist belief.
“I stand with progress and a new progressive patriotism that is about inclusion and respect. We have work to do in this country. Those at the very top need to lead by example.”