LONDON (AP) -- The English Football Association has warned fans against using a derogatory term for Jews in chants at matches.

Variations of ''Yid'' have often been hurled by rivals at the soccer fans of Premier League club Tottenham.

The FA says the abuse has been ''clouded'' by fans of Tottenham, which has traditionally drawn a large fan base from the Jewish communities in London, calling themselves the ''Yid Army.''

But on its website, the FA says it's hard to determine which fans are using ''Yid'' in an ''intentionally offensive manner.''

English soccer leaders add that ''rules on acceptable behavior and language need to be simple.''

Determining that using ''Yid'' is inappropriate at matches, the FA is encouraging fans to avoid using it in ''any situation'' or risk criminal prosecution.