David Baddiel insists Spurs fans have no right to reclaim the Y-word

David Baddiel has blasted the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) over their decision to expand their definition of the word “Yid” to their publication to include “supporter of or player for Tottenham Hotspur”.

Baddiel, the former presenter of Fantasy Football League is Jewish and has campaigned for years against the Y-word being used by Tottenham fans after claiming in 2013 that it is a race-hate word (Guardian).

Spurs have a strong Jewish following and have been targeted with anti-Semitic abuse by opposing fans for many years.

Chants of ‘Yids’, ‘Yid Army’ and ‘Yiddos’ are regularly heard among the North London faithful who use it without offence as something of honour for its group of Jewish fans to deflect its racist usage by opposing fans.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck recently spoke out about the use of the word and urged Tottenham to cease its use (AP).

Baddiel has once again voiced his discontent by insisting that supporters have no right to reclaim the Y-word.

He told Sky News: “The vast majority of fans of the club, including those who self-designate as Y-words, are not Jewish and therefore have no right of ‘reclamation’.

“What it will weirdly give succour to is the sense that Tottenham fans, rather than Jews, ‘own’ this race-hate word for Jews, a word that blackshirts painted on shops in the East End of London.”

Baddiel also criticised the definition which was given by the OED: “I would ask the OED why, considering that they clearly think their definitions are exhaustive, they haven’t included the fact that the word is used not just as a benign “self-designation” by Tottenham fans but also very often in a derogatory and racist way by non-Tottenham fans.”