UEFA Launches Disciplinary Proceedings Against Lazio for “Alleged Racist Behavior” Towards Tottenham’s Jewish Fans
by Zach Pontz
UEFA has begun disciplinary proceedings against Rome, Italy’s Lazio football club for its fan’s “alleged racist behavior” toward British club Tottenham’s fans during a match in Rome in November. The Lazio fans chanted “Juden Tottenham” and held up signs that read “Free Palestine” in an effort to taunt Tottenham’s fans. Tottenham is an historically Jewish neighborhood in London and has a large Jewish fan base.
Spurs, the Football Association and Lazio all strongly condemned the fans who allegedly chanted anti-Semitic songs during the game, which came only hours after a several Tottenham fans were brutally attacked in Rome.
In October, Lazio were fined roughly $50,000 following racist chanting by its fans at Tottenham’s home turf White Hart Lane in September, when Tottenham trio Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon and Andros Townsend were reportedly subjected to monkey chants.
This isn’t the first controversy Tottenham has been embroiled in involving its Jewish roots. A row late last year arose between members of London’s Jewish community who took exception to the “Yid Army” moniker adopted by some of Tottenham’s fans.