(JNS) One of the United Kingdom’s most popular football teams is boosting its efforts to combat antisemitism among the sport’s legion of fans and well beyond. The Chelsea Football Club has launched a “Say No to Anti-Semitism” website that will provide information on the team’s efforts in the fight against hate as well as its involvement in community events, including Holocaust remembrance programs. It will now also note educational initiatives all aimed at driving out hate in the United Kingdom. The initiatives began several years ago after a rise in hate-filled taunts and antisemitic shouts at European football matches. It became clear to Chelsea FC’s management and Jewish owner, Roman Abramovich – who has since made aliyah and lives in Tel Aviv – that something needed to be done. Since 2018, the team has partnered with several Jewish organizations to combat hate; created a mural featuring the images of Jewish soccer players killed in the Holocaust; and has accepted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.

Main Photo: Chelsea owner and Israeli billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2018. Photo / Chelsea FC