Buck makes plea to Blues fans

Chelsea chairman feels some Grant criticism is racist

Last updated: 30th September 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Buck makes plea to Blues fans

Grant: Appointment criticised

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Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says the club will not tolerate any anti-Semitic criticism of Avram Grant's appointment as manager.

Grant was named as Jose Mourinho's successor at Stamford Bridge earlier in September following the Portuguese's sudden departure.

The decision to hand the reins to the Israeli has not met with widespread approval, with supporters showing their backing for Mourinho in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Fulham.

But Buck has claimed that some of the criticism which Grant's appointment has attracted is bordering on racism and anti-Semitism.

And the Blues chairman insists such incidents are tarnishing the reputation of the vast majority of Chelsea fans.

Unfair smears

"We welcome all constructive points of view," said Buck.

"But there have been a few which could be viewed as racist and anti-Semitic and that must stop immediately.

"This is one thing we will not tolerate, whether in written correspondence, on the chat pages, on posters or banners, or through singing and chanting.

"It unfairly smears the reputation of the vast majority of the Chelsea fans who rightly do not want to be associated with such activity."