West Ham United have called on their supporters to stop singing an “offensive and divisive” chant about new Israeli forward Manor Solomon. The chant, which includes the line “he hates Palestine,” was heard during last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor.
Club Statement on Responsibility
Before their first home match of the season against Charlton on Saturday, the club issued a statement reminding supporters of “the responsibility we all hold to represent the club in the right way,” adding that “each and every supporter is an ambassador.”
The statement continued: “Regardless of their background, every supporter within our diverse fanbase should also be free to enjoy watching their team play football without fear, discrimination or abuse. And we remain committed to ensuring that everyone feels safe, respected and included.”
Chant Details and Context
The chant is sung to the tune of the 1963 hit ‘Do Wah Diddy Diddy’ by Manfred Mann. Solomon, 27, joined West Ham this summer after the club’s relegation to the Championship and scored on his debut.
According to reports, the chant does not meet the Metropolitan Police’s threshold for tragedy chanting, and the Football Association is also unlikely to take action.
Solomon’s Career Background
Solomon is a 49-time Israel international. He won three titles during his time at Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, having left Israel where he played three years at Maccabi Petah Tikva. He joined Fulham on loan for the second half of the 2022/23 season before Tottenham signed him permanently as a free agent. He played just six times for Spurs and spent time on loan at Leeds, Villarreal and Fiorentina.
