Premier League Chelsea Football Club will kick-off a new campaign this month to raise awareness of and educate players, staff, fans and the wider community about anti-Semitism in football.

The long-term initiative will officially launch on 31 January, following the commemoration of the Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January, at the Premier League game against Bournemouth.

The campaign has been developed with the help of a steering committee of leading experts and through it, the club will be working with organisations and individuals at home and abroad, including the Holocaust Educational Trust, the Jewish Museum, the Community Security Trust, Kick It Out, the World Jewish Congress, the Anne Frank House and Maccabi GB.

As part of this work, the Chelsea Foundation’s equality and diversity workshops in primary schools will be extended to talk specifically about Jewish faith and culture.

The club will also launch an education programme for supporters banned for anti-Semitic behaviour, as well as helping them to understand the impact of their actions, with participation in the course potentially leading to a reduction in the length of their ban.

Additional activities taking place throughout the year will also include educational visits to former concentration camps for staff, fans and stewards, an exhibition at the Chelsea Museum on football and British Jews and screenings of Liga Terezin, a documentary about a football league run from a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Chelsea will also welcome Holocaust survivor, Harry Spiro, to Chelsea to share with us his and his family’s story.

The World Jewish Congress today gave their backing to the campaign. Robert Singer, CEO and Executive Vice-President, said:

"The World Jewish Congress deeply appreciates the comprehensive efforts being made by Chelsea  to raise awareness of the dangerous manifestations of antisemitism and racism in sport. The value of one of the most prominent sports clubs in the world vigorously leading the charge in addressing this crucial issue cannot be overstated."

From Chelsea Football Club