The Canaries are engulfed in a row over antisemitism after one of its “anti-discrimination ambassadors”, Jessica Pye – a man who likes to dress as a woman – said the club should not sign any Israeli players, following links with a move for Liel Abada, an Israeli international winger. The Norwich Evening News has the story.
The panellist responded to reports of the club’s interest online, writing on X: “It’s a no from me. You wouldn’t sign a Russian, so why sign an Israeli?” and adding “Ban Israel. No Israeli signings.”
In a series of messages, some of which were later deleted, the club’s ambassador for the Her Game Too group also accused Israel of “war crimes” and “genocide” and cited these as reasons that Norwich should not sign an Israeli, adding: “While Abada hasn’t explicitly made any statement in favour of his country, he also hasn’t said anything against it which does count far more for being in support than not.”
The remarks come at a time of mounting alarm over levels of antisemitism in the UK and have been condemned by many fellow City fans.
One wrote: “Ridiculous. Individuals are not responsible for the actions of their governments.” …
Following criticism of the remarks, the ambassador, who has been contacted for comment, retweeted another message describing the antisemitism crisis as an “entirely constructed moral panic, invented by the Zionist lobby and their servile allies in Downing Street and the rapid dogs of the press”. …
Jess Pye was the club’s ambassador for Her Game Too, a group set up to tackle sexism in football.
The supporter, who is a transwoman [sic], also campaigns in support of transgender fans and has previously been named as a matchday “community hero” by the Canaries.
