FA's Martin Glenn apologises for Star of David, swastika and Mugabe comments

The Guardian ^ | 3/7/18

[Impala64ssa]

Glenn has personally apologised to Jewish Leadership Council Comments came in relation to Pep Guardiola’s yellow ribbon Martin Glenn has apologised for offence he caused when referencing the Star of David as one of the symbols he believes breach laws banning religious and political imagery in football.

The FA chief executive mentioned the Star of David in the same breath as the swastika and the former Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe, angering the Jewish community. FA chief adamant Pep Guardiola’s yellow ribbon is political symbol Read more Glenn was commenting about the yellow ribbon worn by Pep Guardiola in support of imprisoned Catalan politicians. Guardiola has until 6pm on Monday to respond to an FA charge for wearing the ribbon, considered by the governing body be a political symbol, during a 1-0 FA Cup fifth round defeat by Wigan Athletic last month. Glenn had said: “It could be the Star of David, it could the hammer and sickle, it could be a swastika, anything like Robert Mugabe on your shirt, these are the things we don’t want.” But he later apologised for his comment, releasing a statement which read: “I would like to apologise for any offence caused by the examples I gave when referring to political and religious symbols in football, specifically in reference to the Star of David, which is a hugely important symbol to Jewish people all over the world.

I will be speaking with the Jewish Leadership Council and to Kick It Out to personally apologise.” The Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Simon Johnson had earlier criticised Glenn. He said: “I have no problem with the FA clarifying Rule Four and specifying that all religious symbols are prohibited on a kit, if that is the case.

[Impala64ssa]

Is this a sincerely contrite apology, or just a matter of expediency for being called out? Anti semetism in soccer is nothing new. Everyone's favorite flat earther David Icke said the "belief" in the earth being round is part of some larger Zionist conspiracy. Icke was quite the soccer player back in his day. Perhaps he headed the ball a few too many times?

[neverevergiveup]

In my opinion there is way more anti-semitism, and racism in Europe than in the US.

[TallahasseeConservative]

He’s right though. It’s like James McClean refusing to wear the poppy on his shirt on Remembrance Sunday, because he’s an IRA supporter.

[Hugh the Scot]

The dirty anti-Semite bastard is right though...

[TallahasseeConservative]

I’m also trying to figure out how pointing out that the “Star of David” is both a religious and political symbol is anti Semitic.

[MarvinStinson]

bmp

[Hugh the Scot]

I believe the offense was perceived in the odious comparisons made; but in my experience, Antisemitism has occasionally been known to overtake persons completely unaware.

[LimitedPowers]

Several years ago there was a big stink made about one of Microsoft’s fonts including a swastika. (The font originated in Japan.) MS put out a critical update that said simply that it had removed some inappropriate symbols from the font (as I recall). I had to check the font itself to see what they’d actually removed: the swastika and the Star of David.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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Don't know who he is, but if he's addressing a law prohibiting political symbols in football, he's correct. It should be banned if other political symbols. As to using the Swastika and Mugabe as comparisons, that might be a problem