Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham fans could be arrested for chanting 'Yid', Met warns

Spurs and Hammers supporters warned about use of the word 'Yid' during Sunday's derby at White Hart Lane

The Football Association said that the word "Yid" was "derogatory and offensive" and urged fans to refrain from using it on the terraces. Photo: GETTY IMAGES

The Metropolitan Police has warned both Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham fans ahead of this Sunday's game at White Hart Lane that they could face arrest if they use the word "Yid".

David Cameron argued earlier this month that it was acceptable for Spurs fans to chant the word, after the Football Association warned fans could face criminal charges and long banning orders.

Tottenham, who have a strong Jewish following, have regularly been subjected to anti-Semitic abuse from opposition fans, most notably in the same fixture against West Ham last season.

Fans regularly use the word “Yid” or chant “Yid Army” from the stands at White Hart lane as a “defence mechanism”.

But a spokesman for the force told Telegraph Sport that “the law applies equally to both sets of fans”, indicating home supporters who believe they have reclaimed the word “Yid” and do not think they are using it in a derogatory manner could face arrest.

The match commander for Sunday’s game, Chief Superintendent Mick Johnson, said: "This topic has been debated at length but our position is clear, racism and offensive language have no place in football or indeed in society.

“Those supporters who engage in such behaviour should be under no illusion that they may be committing an offence and may be liable to a warning or be arrested."

Spurs have sent out a questionnaire to fans to gauge the mood on the terraces, but some Jewish groups have argued use of the term “Yid” is offensive in any context.

The Met’s stance appears to be at odds with that of David Cameron.

Asked whether Tottenham fans should be prosecuted for using the term, the Prime Minister told the Jewish Chronicle: “There’s a difference between Spurs fans self-describing themselves as Yids and someone calling someone a Yid as an insult.

“You have to be motivated by hate. Hate speech should be prosecuted but only when it’s motivated by hate.”

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust has said it should be for the fans to decide if they stop using the word “Yid”.

Darren Alexander said: “As far as we are concerned and as far as the police are concerned, unless there is an intent to offend, then you can't be prosecuted.”