Dictionary definition of ‘Yid’ now includes Tottenham fans

Oxford English Dictionary has clarified why they have updated the definition of the derogative word to affiliate it with Spurs supporters despite a backlash from the Jewish community for its antisemitic meaning

Tottenham Hotspur have criticised the Oxford English Dictionary’s (OED) expanded definition of the words “yid” and “yiddo” after it linked the terms to the Premier League club.

The OED has attracted criticism for claiming that the term “yid” can refer to “a supporter of or player for Tottenham Hotspur football club (traditionally associated with the Jewish community in north and east London)”, despite the offensive and racist connotations that it carries.

It is used predominantly as a racially offensive term towards Jewish people and has been used in the past to abuse Tottenham fans by opposition supporters. Some Spurs fans have attempted to reclaim the word from its racial connotations by adopting it as a nickname for the club with chants of "Yid Army" common at home games, despite the fan base being made up of both Jewish and non-Jewish people.

Spurs have previously said that it has a "zero-tolerance position" on antisemitism, and after the OED included it in its list of new and updated entries, the club spoke out to criticise the change in description.

A Tottenham statement read: “As a club we have never accommodated the use of the Y-word on any club channels or in club stores and have always been clear that our fans (both Jewish and gentile) have never used the term with any intent to cause offence.

“We find the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of the word misleading given it fails to distinguish context, and welcome their clarification.”

The OED did add that the word is “originally and frequently derogatory and offensive, though also often as a self-designation”, but stressed that their updates are made to “reflect rather than dictate” English language.

"We reflect, rather than dictate, how language is used which means we include words which may be considered sensitive and derogatory. These are always labelled as such," an OED spokesperson said.

“The entry for ‘yiddo’ is labelled as offensive and derogatory and our reference to Tottenham Hotspur is a reflection of the evidence for the word. As we state at the closely related word ‘yid’, Tottenham Hotspur football club is traditionally associated with the Jewish community in north and east London, and the term is sometimes used as a self-designation by some Tottenham fans. We will ensure the context for this connection is very clear in both definitions.”

A number of Jewish groups have condemned any use of the word and urged the Premier League club to rid it from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the World Jewish Congress claiming it “must not be tolerated in any way” as it is an antisemitic slur regardless of intent.

"There is no grey area," said WJC chief executive Robert Singer last year. “(The word) has for years been re-appropriated from its original Yiddish to carry a distinctly pejorative and antisemitic message, and its use by fans in the stands, either as a self-designated nickname or as a slogan against rivals must not be tolerated in any way.

“The innocence this word once carried, as a simple translation for Jew, has long disappeared, and we must be extremely conscious of the anti-Semitic connotation it now bears.”

Chelsea supporter and comedian David Baddiel has campaigned against the use of the word along with other antisemitic chants, and he also criticised the OED’s stance on what is a “myth” given that the majority of Spurs supporters are not Jewish.

Comedian and writer David Baddiel has campaigned against the use of the offensive word (PA)

“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’,” Baddiel said.

“What it will weirdly give succour to is: when The Y-Word campaign first started, a Spurs fan said to me, a Jewish person who feels uncomfortable with that word: ‘F*** off, it’s our word now.’ Can you imagine something similar with any other race hate word? Jews are not even allowed to own their own hate.”

The north London club last year asked fans to complete a survey on the use of the word that drew more than 23,000 responses, with 33 per cent of that figure admitting they used the term regularly in a football context. That opposed 18 per cent who did not use it in a footballing context as they deemed it offensive, though that figure rose to 35 per cent among Jewish supporters. However, nearly half of those who responded admitted that they would like to see the word used less at matches or stopped altogether.