Blues could face partial stadium closure as Uefa probe anti-Semitic chants
Uefa has announced it is investigating the alleged anti-Semitic chants by Chelsea supporters during last Thursday’s Europa League tie with Vidi in Budapest.
Chelsea condemned the singing of a derogatory chant about Tottenham supporters, featuring anti-Semitic language, by a vocal minority of their own supporters as “abhorrent” and vowed to take the “strongest possible action”.
A statement from Uefa on Tuesday read: “Uefa has today announced that it has commissioned an ethics and disciplinary inspector to conduct an investigation in relation to the alleged racist incidents that occurred at last week’s Uefa Europa League group stage match between Vidi FC and Chelsea FC played on December 12 in Hungary.
“Information in respect to the results of this investigation will be made available by the middle of January.”
The Blues face a partial stadium closure as a penalty if the supporters are found guilty, Uefa regulations state.
The incident happened just days after four fans were suspended for abusing Raheem Sterling.
Chelsea and the Metropolitan Police opened investigations after alleged racist abuse was directed at Manchester City’s Sterling by a section of home supporters during the match at Stamford Bridge on December 8.
Minutes into the Blues’ next game – Thursday night’s Europa League clash with Vidi in Budapest’s Groupama Arena – a vocal minority of Chelsea supporters were heard singing a derogatory chant about Tottenham supporters, featuring anti-Semitic language.
Chelsea in January launched a campaign to raise awareness and educate about anti-Semitism in football and the club is disgusted at the latest incident.
Article 14 of Uefa’s regulations state that if supporters are found guilty of behaviour that “insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons on whatever grounds, including skin colour, race, religion or ethnic origin… (the) club responsible is punished with a minimum of a partial stadium closure”.
If proven, this would be Chelsea’s first offence.
A second offence would see them forced to play a match behind closed doors.
