West Ham United have issued a strong condemnation of a chant sung by a section of their supporters that carried an anti-Palestine message, directed at Israeli winger Manor Solomon, and have called on fans to refrain from such behaviour going forward.
The chant was heard among a group of travelling West Ham fans during the club's opening Championship fixture away at Burnley last Sunday. The club moved to address the issue publicly ahead of their first home match of the season, a Championship clash against Charlton Athletic at the London Stadium on Saturday.
In a statement released before the Charlton game, West Ham described the chant as "offensive and divisive" and stressed that supporters carry a responsibility as representatives of the club whenever they attend matches. The statement read in part: "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."
The club went on to directly reference the incident at Turf Moor, stating: "The club is aware of an offensive and divisive chant, containing an anti-Palestine message, being sung by a section of away supporters during our opening EFL Championship match at Burnley on Sunday afternoon."
While acknowledging that chanting is a long-standing tradition among football supporters and forms part of the matchday atmosphere, West Ham urged fans to channel their enthusiasm without alienating others. "We encourage our supporters to sing loud and proud about their football club and the players wearing the claret and blue shirt – but never in a way that creates division or causes offence among fellow fans," the statement continued.
The controversy comes at a notable moment for Solomon, who marked his competitive debut for West Ham with a goal in the draw against Burnley. The 27-year-old winger arrived at the London Stadium this summer following his move from fellow London club Tottenham Hotspur, agreeing to a three-year contract after West Ham paid an undisclosed fee for his signature.
Solomon has built a well-travelled career across several leagues in Europe. He began his footballing journey at Maccabi Petah Tikva in Israel before making the move to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk, where he claimed three Ukrainian Premier League titles. He later had a loan spell in England with Fulham. Following his transfer to Tottenham in 2023, Solomon continued to gain experience through loan spells, most notably helping Leeds United secure the Championship title, in addition to stints with Spanish side Villarreal and Italian club Fiorentina.
On the international stage, Solomon has become a regular fixture for Israel, earning 49 caps and contributing eight goals for his national team.
West Ham's decision to publicly address the chant reflects the club's stated commitment to equality and inclusion, values the statement described as being "at the heart of the club." The Hammers now find themselves attempting to balance the passionate, vocal support that characterizes their fanbase with efforts to eliminate language or chants deemed discriminatory or divisive.
As the club continues its Championship campaign following relegation from the Premier League last season, the situation surrounding Solomon adds an off-field dimension to what has otherwise been a promising start for the newly signed winger on the pitch.
Based on reporting from The Independent.