Spurs legend Greaves is proud to be a 'Yid' and prepared to be arrested for shouting it



Former Tottenham goalscoring legend Jimmy Greaves has spoken out on the debate surrounding Spurs fans' use of the word 'Yid' in their football chants.

Tottenham supporters were warned by the FA that they could face criminal prosecution if they continued to use the term while watching their team.

Greaves admits to not being a religious man but claims he is proud to be called a 'Yid' or 'Yiddle' as it simply relates his his association with the football club where he is so fondly remembered.

Political correctness gone mad: Jimmy Greaves insists he is proud to be called a 'Yid' as it relects his association with Spurs

Legend: Greaves plundered 220 goals for Tottenham between 1961 and 1970



'Greavsie' played at White Hart Lane between 1961 and 1970, scoring a prolific 220 goals in 321 games for the club, and has urged Tottenham supporters to continue using the term.

'People are trying to sanitise a situation for no reason whatsoever and if they are going to get arrested then I am going to stand up and shout it myself so I can be arrested as well,' he told the Sunday People.

'They are chants in support of Tottenham Hotspur - that was the case 50 years ago, so why has it suddenly become offensive now?

'Do you seriously think that Tottenham supporters are chanting it as a racist remark?

'Up until a few weeks ago I dare wager half of them probably didn't know what it meant,' he added.

Support: Tottenham fans will face no action for chanting the word 'Yid' last weekend

The 73-year-old recalled how back in his playing days during the '60s, being dubbed a 'Yiddle' was something to be proud of and had no connection to the directors, manager or players being Jewish.



'I played at White Hart Lane alongside names that tripped off the tongue: Yiddle Perryman, Yiddle Mackay from Scotland, Yiddle Jones from Rhonda Valley and Yiddle Jennings from Ireland.



'Tottenham haven't got anymore Jewish supporters than Arsenal.

'The only people who are really taking offence are the type of people who are looking for something to really take offence at - jumping on the political correctness bandwagon, going on television to try and make a name for themselves'.

Great Dane: Christian Eriksen was greeted with chants of 'Yiddo' when making his Tottenham debut

The FA warnings have not stopped Spurs fans using their traditional 'Yid army' chant, which has now been accompanied by ‘We’re Tottenham Hotspur, we’ll sing what we want’. They also greeted new signing Christian Eriksen with the chant 'Yiddo' on his debut for the club.

Despite FA claims that 'use of the term in a public setting could amount to a criminal offence and leave fans liable to prosecution', they confirmed no action would be taken when the chants were used last weekend.

