Chelsea is "facing a partial stadium closure or a ban" on away fans traveling to a European match after the club was charged by UEFA over "antisemitic chanting by supporters," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Chelsea for racist behavior by fans at their Europa League game against Vidi in Budapest last month. After the match, Chelsea execs accused those responsible of "lacking brainpower" and now the club "is facing sanctions." UEFA's minimum punishment for a first offense of racism is a ban on traveling fans or a partial stadium closure. UEFA's control, ethics & disciplinary body will deal with the case at its next meeting on Feb. 28, so any sanction will not affect Chelsea’s last-32 Europa League matches "but would come into force for the round of 16" if Chelsea beats Malmo. A second offense would lead to Chelsea being forced to play a home match in Europe behind closed doors (LONDON TIMES, 1/15). In London, Dominic Fifield reported the club, whose owner, Roman Abramovich, is Jewish, "launched its Say No to Antisemitism campaign a year ago to raise awareness and educate about antisemitism in football" (GUARDIAN, 1/15).
RAISING AWARENESS: Abramovich, as well as several of the club’s top players, joined the World Jewish Congress this week in its third annual We Remember campaign to raise awareness of the horrors of the Holocaust and the dangers of all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia. Chelsea posted a video to its social media platforms on Tuesday featuring its players holding #WeRemember signs (Rosen Group).
UNDER INVESTIGATION: REUTERS reported Tottenham Hotspur is investigating an "alleged incident of racism" by a supporter toward South Korean forward Son Heung-min during Sunday's loss to ManU. The north London club confirmed on Monday that it was "conducting an internal inquiry" after a supporter said that he "had confronted someone in the home end at Wembley over abuse aimed at Son" (REUTERS, 1/15).
STERN WARNING: ESPN.com's Selene Scarsi reported Napoli was warned by the head of the Italian police that there "could be consequences if they walk off the field because of racism." Napoli has said it will ignore the warning from Italy Interior Minister Matteo Salvini and walk off the pitch "in the event of a repeat of the racial abuse" suffered by Kalidou Koulibaly on Boxing Day (ESPN.com, 1/15).
