Supporters of English soccer club Chelsea watching their team in action at Stamford Bridge. Photo: Reuters/Hannah McKay

Chelsea Football Club has announced the creation of a new group for its Jewish fans, making it the third major soccer team in the United Kingdom to announce such a group for its supporters.

The move comes amid reports of surging antisemitism across the United Kingdom, where members of the Jewish academic community have been forced to conceal their identities on university campuses, according to a report issued earlier this year by the Parliamentary Task Force on Antisemitism in Higher Education.

However, Chelsea’s Jewish Supporters Group, set up and run by fans of the team, intends to “bring supporters together to celebrate Jewish culture and identity, and work closely with the club on initiatives and campaigns to help ensure Chelsea FC is a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone,” the London-based club said on Friday on its official website.

Fans can already apply to join the group, which will hold its first official event to celebrate Hanukkah on Dec. 11 at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s home stadium. Fans of all backgrounds and faiths, as well as “key figures within the Jewish community,” are invited to join the celebration, the team said.

“As a life-long Chelsea fan, I have been impressed and proud of the work the club has done to combat antisemitism and discrimination,” said Stephen Nelken, founder of the Jewish Supporters Group. “The intention in founding this group is to celebrate Jewish identity, support the excellent work the club is doing, and encourage like-minded fans to come together to support Chelsea. We are looking forward to welcoming new members to the group and are hopeful we can provide a voice for Jewish fans all over the world.”

Chelsea, a powerhouse of the English Premier League, launched a “Say No to Antisemitism” campaign in 2018 — funded by former club owner and Jewish Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich — that was an extension of the Chelsea Foundation’s Building Bridges campaign.

“Football and faith bring people together, and we are excited to provide a forum for our Jewish supporters to connect and celebrate their religion and culture together,” said Lord Daniel Finkelstein, club director and chairman of the Chelsea Foundation. “Chelsea FC and Chelsea Foundation have long been committed to ridding football and society of antisemitism through our award-winning Say No to Antisemitism and No to Hate campaigns. This group is another example of the club and foundation working with our supporters to help promote tolerance and understanding in football and beyond.”

The English Premier League soccer team Arsenal FC created a support group for its Jewish fans earlier this year, and Watford FC did the same in 2021.

Lord John Mann, the British government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, called on other soccer clubs to create similar groups for its Jewish fans. He noted that Chelsea has “been pioneering in their efforts and dedication to eradicating antisemitism from football and society, and the creation of this group is another example of that. I would urge other clubs to follow their example and celebrate their Jewish supporters.”