• Video footage of abuse caught prior to Manchester City match • Offensive references heard in songs on tram before Premier League game

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Police are hunting two football fans after footage emerged online of a group chanting a vile tirade of anti-Semitic abuse on a tram.

A number of men, believed to be heading to Manchester City’s match against Tottenham Hotspur last month, were caught on video singing disgusting racist slurs in the packed carriage.

Video footage on a tram ahead of the match appears to show supporters heading to the match singing: “You’re getting gassed in the morning” - a reference to the treatment of Jews in concentration camps during the second world war. Tottenham’s support is historically made up of a large Jewish fanbase and antisemitic chants and behaviour have been aimed at them for decades.



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The footage was reportedly filmed on a Metrolink tram from Manchester city centre to the Etihad Stadium at around 5.10pm on 21 January.

The incident had been criticised by Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the national representative organisation of the UK Jewish community. In a statement, Arkush had said: “Sick racist chanting has been an enduring part of the football scene in this country for far too long now. It is a criminal offence. The perpetrators should be arrested and feel the full force of the law.”

The chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, Simon Johnson, also criticised the actions shown on mobile phone footage.

He said: “It is incumbent upon all clubs, and the football authorities, to take extra measures to prevent this from happening and rapidly identify the culprits.”

A spokesman for City had said the club “strongly condemns the use of any antisemitic language” and would be co-operating with any investigation into the matter.