The Debate is back for one week only... MARTIN SAMUEL responds to readers after his call for the Tottenham army to march to a different tune

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A change of pace this week. Regular readers will remember The Debate column, which expired roughly a year ago to be replaced by Five Points. The Debate was comprehensive: one topic, as long as it took. And in the end, it took longer than all day, which is why it got phased out. 

But there are some subjects that don't deserve to be lumped in with weekly paranoia about the reporting of Manchester City and Liverpool, or the standard baseless accusations that this newspaper favours Manchester United, just because we praise them when they win. And that was what it was going to be this week: the usual. And then something happened. 

The Yid Army debate, happened, on the back of Monday's column. Now that's something we can get our teeth into. So this one's old school. A single topic and I'll run with it until live football intervenes. But of course one thing never changes. There will always be music. Here's Tottenham's finest to start us off. No, not them. The mighty Jah Wobble: bass guitar legend and Tottenham fan. Five points up – oh no, it's not.

Derby fans sing 'sheep shag army' in response to the taunts from opposition fans. That doesn't condone bestiality any more than 'Yid Army' constitutes racist behaviour. Steve1000, Nottingham.

True, but I don't think you'll find that sheep shagging has been the problem for humanity that anti-Semitism has been over the centuries, and might not require the same level of care. It's been a problem for sheep, obviously.

If I called Lesley King [sic] or Didier Drogba, a black man that is not racist, or hurtful, it is a fact. If I called either of them a f****** black man, it would still be factual, but it would be racist as it would be done with venom and hatred. Wotspur, Weybridge.

Yes, and I acknowledged that point in the sentence: 'Now we all know that a supporter prepared to sing the line 'he hates the f****** yids' is going to have a hard time convincing any court, or reasonable person, that the words are not racially motivated.' I understand the difference between Tottenham's use and Chelsea's. I would merely argue there is cause and effect. And by the way, I think what would tick Ledley King off most of all is that he was one of your finest players, and you don't appear to know his name.

Ledley King is a club legend for Tottenham, who were the focus of Martin Samuel's column

You wrote: 'To challenge this, it needs the club to take a stand. But what club wishes to get on the wrong side of its most vocal, and probably loyal, supporters?' But isn't that what Chelsea are now doing? Basil the dog, Kent.

Yes, and I think it's very noble of them. They could easily duck out and make it a matter for the Football Association.

I agree with your sentiments on this. My stance is if you defend the use of a word, you cease to have any legitimate grievance when others use it too. If you found the word truly offensive, you would not justify its use by anyone. BarryBwana, Canada.

I can see both sides here, Barry, so I'll stick with what I wrote on November 12, 2012, in a previous item about the use of the word 'yid' at football: 

'Lenny Bruce was a brilliant comedian but life never panned out as he envisaged. He would up the house lights, round his audience verbally into n******, kykes, wops and spics and then conclude that it was the suppression of the word that gave it the power. He suggested President Kennedy use the N-word to every black man he saw. 'Until n***** didn't mean anything anymore; then you could never make some six-year-old black kid cry because somebody called him a n***** at school.' It's a wonderful ideal. But people have tried it. And here we are nearly 50 years later and abuse is still powerful, even with a black man in the White House. It might be simpler to just stop saying the N-word instead.'

Chelsea have asked fans to stop using their chant about Alvaro Morata, which uses the word

While not making it right, the use of the word 'yid' in the Chelsea song about Alvaro Morata was to rhyme with Madrid, so if his name was Runers, the word would have been Gooners. Jimrod1000, Hong Kong.

Let's hope they don't sign anyone from Troon then, if it's racist rhyming that's inexplicably unavoidable.

It's getting ridiculous now for real football fans. Can't sing, can't stand, can't enjoy yourself. Is there any other kind of entertainment where the fans are held in such contempt? I'm a Manchester United season ticket holder so obviously can relate to an atmosphere being taken away by day trippers, but I travelled to Harrogate versus Salford last week and I've never experienced so many jobsworth stewards. My friends go to watch Wigan rugby and Wigan football. They can sit in same seat drinking alcohol watching rugby but can't even smell of ale at the football. Somethings got to give. No wonder fans get frustrated. Wink1982, Wigan.

Can't sing, can't stand, can't get plastered, can't enjoy yourself? Ever thought of watching the football? The football's good fun as well, and can often be approached sober and without the need for abuse. And, as you know, Wink, there is a reason alcohol was banned at football matches. People were dying. That's why rugby and football are treated differently. And it's not about class either, because the sport you are referring to is rugby league, which is as working class as they come. One final point. Some of your neighbours in Wigan might consider a person who leaves town to follow Manchester United each week a day-tripper, too. Not me. I'm a live and let live kind of guy.

You will never stop it. So off you go, snowflakes. Vic, Hertfordshire.

Now, Vic, we know better to use the S-word on here. Otherwise, I'll make another disparaging remark about Brexit in passing, and all the Leave voters will wee in their trousers again.

'Cos the thing I love most is being a Yid! Being a Yid, Being a Yid! The thing I love most is being a Yid!' FloreatSalopia, Shropshire.

But are you a Yid, mate – or you just some wannabe from Shropshire, a place with barely any Jewish population, that has never had to deal with anti-Semitism as it was experienced in London, Manchester, Leeds, or any major city with a significant Jewish immigrant population. Because then you're just playing with something you know nothing about – which is probably why your post is so utterly infantile.

Look for years, we Spurs fans had to put up with anti-Semitic abuse from London fans and no-one came to help us, not the police, not the FA, not David Baddiel. So to defuse the situation we adopted the Y-word in a witty and non-confrontational way. Henry Baker-Brown, London.

We'll come back to the issue of solidarity later, but first I'll say this. If you are really so in touch with Jewish culture through your association with Spurs, how comes I had to correct your spelling of Semitic? There's no second E. And that's not a mistake anyone who was truly down with the Yids would make, Henry. I think this unity argument is a convenient excuse.

Tottenham fans have continued to use the word and defend its usage despite controversy

What about the hissing noises and songs about Auschwitz from your lovely West Ham fans, Martin? Your club is just as bad. Steven Betts, Florida.

I'd say it's worse. But then I acknowledged that in the piece, if you had bothered to read it.

Yiddo, yiddo – and proud to be one. DC Sat, Parma.

Well, of course, you can be now. Would you have been as keen to proclaim that kinship in Italy, say, 75 years ago? That's when the Jews needed people to stand by their side in Europe. Didn't really happen, did it?

You heard him, Tottenham fans. You all have to stop that song because Martin Samuel says so. Fans can sing and do what they want. Nogs, Liverpool.

Point me to where he says to stop using it? You can't. Modernising is different. Paranoidis Android, Leeds.

Thanks, PA. Very good spot. I saw what happened when the FA tried banning the 'Yid Army' chant. It is pointless going down that road which is why I talked of modernising, of realising that the point has been made, and it is time to evolve. As for Nogs' insistence that fans can sing and do what they want, presumably he is fine with the chants of 'murderers' at Anfield then? That is fans singing and doing what they want and, given what is now known, it is appalling. Any reasonable person has no issue with limits on behaviour because we have seen too many instances of misery and pain caused when excesses go unchecked.

Any fans who want to use the word merely have to don a Tottenham shirt and get a free pass. LORNAO, London.

I'm not sure any Chelsea fans will do that in a hurry, but I get your point.

Tottenham fans sung 'two more years' for Arsene Wenger. The idiots didn't realise he's won more trophies at Arsenal than they have in their whole history. Trevarseuk, London.

Spurs players and their fans celebrate beating Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League

Wenger at Arsenal, ten trophies – three Premier League, seven FA Cup. Tottenham, 17 trophies – two league titles, eight FA Cup, four League Cup, the European Cup-Winners Cup, two UEFA Cup. Come on mate, it's a two second internet search.

One of our songs has the line: 'They tried to stop us and look what it did, the thing I like most is being a yid.' If the club liaised with supporters groups properly over time they could stop the use of it, sadly, the club can't even talk with them about simple matters such as loyalty points and ticketing at Wembley and the new stadium. So I don't hold much hope. Maxj, London.

I agree, Max. I broached that in the column. This is what I mean about modernisation. The club should be prepared to open that dialogue, unless Daniel Levy is happy at the word 'yid' being bandied around in his ground, no matter the context. I don't think you can ban it, but I think it has run its course as a worthy riposte, and there is a grave risk the ownership is being lost. Maybe the club are scared confronting this issue will cost. In which case, the next contribution from a musical Tottenham fan is appropriate. Here's Wiley.

Disappointing article, Martin. You have form on this issue. As I've explained to you on more than a few occasions, the argument is about the context of the use of the word, and not the word itself. Just to remind you, I have been a Spurs supporter since I was six years old, and for decades Jews and gentiles have stood together proudly chanting the word. This issue has been done to death with the FA, the police and in the courts and has been put to bed in that sense, with leaders inside the Jewish community publicly stating and providing evidence in court, that the there is no offence within the context used by Spurs fans. Keith Barrado, London.

Really? Here's The Guardian on the subject, from September 17, 2013. 'The FA released a statement last week strongly restating its belief that the term 'Yid' should not be used in any context at a football ground and warning that its use could amount to a criminal offence that would leave fans at risk of being banned and prosecuted. The FA's stance was backed by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Community Security Trust, which represents Jewish interests…' Before you come on here patronising me and 'my form', you might want to get some real knowledge of the subject, rather than just pompously affecting it. 

We've all got our personal experiences, as you are about to discover. And, by the way, why would a gentile be proud to sing the word 'yid' as response to a racist slur – because if his own people treated Jews with respect, he wouldn't need to do it. He should feel very disappointed that it is considered necessary, not proud.

You'll never stop Tottenham singing that chant. If you look back over history, away fans used to sing it as an offensive slur because of Tottenham's links to the Jewish community. The Spurs fans turned this negative into a positive to declare themselves the 'Yid Army' as a one-finger salute to those fans. Carlos, Southend.

I agree. I saw it as solidarity. Turning a supposed insult into a badge of pride and defiance. I hope Jewish people are not offended but then I hope certain fans can stop being racist morons. Perturbed, London.

Right, here goes. I grew up in a Tottenham supporting area. Still live quite near. My next door neighbours support Tottenham. Family on my wife's side are Tottenham. My best mate at school was Tottenham, and my best mate in sixth form, too. Quite a few of my classmates were, in fact. I went to Tottenham plenty of times with them, when West Ham were away. Got chased down the road by a load of Leeds fans once, I recall. There were about ten of us. We were only 13. 

We all came round the corner, saw this little firm, and stopped in our tracks. One of our big-mouthed Tottenham lot – Macca I think his name was – then came round the corner, singing. We got away all right. I'm quite fast when I need to be. 

Now my kids have grown up in the same area, a lot of their mates are Tottenham fans, too. One with his dad on the board. And I meet Tottenham fans every day through my job, my social life, some are colleagues in the press box. And here's the thing. Not once, not ever, has any Tottenham fan attempted to engage me in a conversation about the solidarity he feels with the Jewish community, and why that inspires his ownership of the word 'yid'. 

Not Webby, not Lofty, not Claire, not Costas, not Norman, not Callum, not Macca, not John, not Simon, not Richard, not Roy, not Joanne, not Tim, not Paolo, not Barry, not Andy, not Paul, not the other Paul, not the other other Paul – you get the idea. 

Tottenham fans have continued to use the word and justifying its usage in chants and songs

None of them have ever mentioned this solidarity, despite me having a surname that makes everyone presume I am Jewish. Never came up in discussion. Not once. NOT EVER. Now, I can understand how a certain solidarity might be felt. For a period of time I wrote a sports column for the Jewish Chronicle. And, in those years, despite having never identified with any organised religion, I felt quite, let's say well disposed, to the faith. I'm sure Tottenham supporters feel the same. 

I don't think any Tottenham fan is going to join a neo-Nazi rally, no matter how many fine people Donald Trump says are in attendance. But I'm not buying that this is a calculated show of solidarity. It might now be part of the club identity, it might be a handy tool to poke up the noses of the racists, but this is not an overtly political act. I think claiming it as one conveniently adds to the justification, but I'm not convinced.

Tottenham, along with other supporters, chant about Chelsea rent boys and no-one seems to give a fig. Yet there is no doubt that these words are both offensive and derogatory. Terraloon, Dorchester.

Indeed. And if Chelsea's fans retaliated by calling themselves the Queer Army, or Fag Army, of Poof Army – because 'Yid' is the derogatory term, Tottenham don't call themselves the 'Jew Army' – would this be reasonable; or would it be deemed offensive that straight men are presuming to 'reclaim' such words?

So what? It's our right to say what we want at a football game. We don't mean anything by it, we are just letting off some steam after a hard week at work. Now we can't say this or that, but it's OK for the Premier League to steal our game from us and sell it around the world to any foreigners with money. Rod72, Surrey.

Oh, give it a rest mate. My old man's 78. Still works at his poultry stall. Still chops chickens. Still loads and unloads. Hard, manual labour. And when he goes to a football match, he doesn't go to let off steam, because that's the action of a child, not a grown man. He goes to watch the football. He'd probably applaud a good goal from the opposition, too, if that wouldn't attract abuse from some cretin who thinks it's his right to say what he wants. 

So answer me this: if we should all be able to say anything at football, how come if there's an opposition fan in the main stand doing nothing more provocative than cheering on his team, a bunch of precious, nasty little twerps go berserk and want him thrown out?

It's not the Y word but how it is used. At Spurs, there are no Auschwitz songs or songs about gas. There are at Arsenal, West Ham and Chelsea. The Jewish owners at West Ham and Chelsea have had to ask their fans to stop singing them. 

The Y word at Tottenham is a collective identity, one of unification rather than division. It is also not Tottenham's fault that this brings out the worst in opposing fans. That is their choice. They choose to sing racist songs. 

As a Jewish person I feel more comfortable at the Lane and now Wembley than I ever could at Chelsea, West Ham or Arsenal. If it makes you uncomfortable, then that's an issue you have with your own supporters at West Ham. Rugby7, Yokohama.

I don't hear Arsenal fans singing that to Tottenham fans. Don Dons, London.

Some West Ham fans have used anti-Semitic chants against Spurs. Note, this picture is for illustrative purposes only

Nor do I, Don. Never heard any Auschwitz or gas references at Arsenal. As for West Ham, I documented my distaste for the behaviour of some of their supporters in the column. I made it pretty plain who was to blame, too. I just feel it is time we removed the last fig leaf of equivalency the real racists have. And that can only be done one way.

Nobody is accusing Tottenham of chanting the word in a racist manner but we all know what some a small portion of football fans are like and by using a derogatory word, even in a non-derogatory manner, it only breeds anti-Semitism in English football. Eradicating it will only happen if Spurs take a stand and stop. 

If, for example, Bradford fans went around calling themselves the Islamic Army as they are from a very heavily populated Islamic area, it would increase racism, even though they were not being racist. There is a thin line between the passion and banter which makes football so great and the idiots who use it as an excuse to cross the line. Mikekhal, London.

I think you might have it the wrong way round. If visiting fans were singing pejorative songs about Muslims inside Valley Parade and then the Bradford fans who were not Muslim chose to call themselves the Islamic Army then it would be the same. The Y-word was adopted in response to visiting fans from Chelsea, Leeds and West Ham who thought that using it and referencing the Holocaust were jolly amusing. 

Spurs fans collectively decided that to have a go at our Jewish fans was to have a go at all of us. The anti-Semitism is not a result of the chanting; the chanting is a response to the anti-Semitism. My maternal grandmother was Jewish, so I've heard the Y-word a lot. I feel safer surrounded by 30,000 Spurs fans using it than I ever did hearing it in a pub or at school. Kev, Leyton.

I certainly understand that, Kev. All I would say is that 'Yid Army' is no longer a response. If it was only sung as a reaction to racism at the time, I could understand it. But it could be heard against Borussia Dortmund last night in the face of no provocation at all. However, with regard to your other point, I do think both posters here, while making very valid observations on opposite sides of the debate, are tiptoeing around one important detail. The response to anti-Muslim taunts wouldn't be 'Islamic Army'. It would be 'Paki Army'. 

The 'Yid Army' chant was heard around Wembley during the win over Borussia Dortmund

No firm has ever sung 'Town full of Islamics, you're just a town full of Islamics' to Bradford. We all know what gets sung at Bradford. And it gets sung at Leicester, too. And Luton. And Blackburn. Anywhere with a significant Asian-British population in fact. So if the predominantly white supporters that follow these clubs adopted 'Paki Army' as their shield, and said they were showing solidarity with the local ethnic community, we would all be comfortable, yes? And we don't think that it would in some way lead to a wider proliferation of racially-charged language in our grounds, rather than having the antagonists take stock? 

Because I don't know if you've noticed, Kev, but since Tottenham fans reclaimed the word 'yid' I haven't heard too many at Stamford Bridge or West Ham backing down. 'Well, Nigel, they appear to have wrestled us to the point of reason here. See what they did? By reclaiming the word 'yid', they have negated its poison in our mouths. Well, bravo them, I say. We'll just have to go back to calling them c***s like we used to, and hope they don't come up with any witty songs that the thing they like most is having a vagina. Because then we really would be f***ed.' No – they just created new and worse songs with the word 'yid' in them. So it isn't really working.

Either the word is offensive or it is not, we cannot keep splitting hairs on this issue. Tottenham, ban your fans from using the word and then the issue is clear. Chaz, Bristol.

It's not, Chaz, because that was tried in 2013 and resulted in the debacle against West Ham that I wrote about in the column. That's why any change needs to be consensual, not enforced.

Here's an idea, how about everyone grows up? I'm a Tottenham fan. I do not hate or wish to denigrate other clubs. I can still appreciate players such as N'Golo Kante, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Philippe Couthino, Leroy Sané, Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero, without resorting to mindless abuse. I admire Antonio Conte, I appreciate Jose Mourinho, I respect Pep Guardiola. Instead of Kick It Out let's have All Grow Up. Ivor Point, England.

Listen: to all Spurs fans who think that you will come to Stamford Bridge this season and we will watch you lot sing at us without us responding, you're having a laugh. If you think the FA has empowered you to have a one-way attack at us then beware. We will sing it again if need be because that's the only way to hurt you morons. Jonjon, London.

And there you have it, Ivor. That's the level of intellectual engagement you are up against. So any Tottenham singing is an attack on you, Jon? They're not just supporting their team? That's the problem. Too many people defined by what they hate.

Odd argument. For a hate crime to be committed an act of hate must be involved. Spurs fans calling themselves Yids clearly is an act of affection. Chelsea fans saying 'he f****** hates the Yids' is different. Martin compares Yid to the N-word, but blanks out the letters for the N-word and spells out Yid so even he admits there is a difference despite using it as an illustration. Breadsticks, London.

Look at the convolutions and confusions this subject has wrought on people. We have Samuel stating 'yid' without the use of any blanks but using 'n***er' for the other taboo word. Everyone knows what it means anyway, so why can't the word be spelled as it is for 'yid'? Because it is written in full does not mean it is used offensively. What a mess we have created for ourselves. Torres, Fulham.

Torres, I agree. So let me tell you what happened. In my original copy, the only letters blanked out were for the F word. In the Brixton United analogy I had the fans of my imaginary club chanting 'N***** Army'. I used the street spelling to soften the blow slightly, but it was spelled out in full. I thought it was hypocritical to blank out letters for one word but not the other. My sports editor called. He said printing it in full made him uncomfortable. He said it would come as a jolt to the reader. I told him it was meant to. 

I wanted to make plain the minefield we were entering. But there is a wider issue, too. I may never write to instruction, but I have to respect the sensitivities of the newspaper. There are some battles that are not mine to win. For instance, around the F word. It will always appear with asterisks, no matter my personal view (that we're all adults and we could handle it, as long as it could be justified and wasn't gratuitous). 

Harry Kane celebrates his second goal against Dortmund in front of the Tottenham supporters

The N word, I feel, falls into that category, too. The sports editor said he would take a ruling from the editor of the day. The editor thought the N word should be blanked. So we changed the spelling – N and four asterisks would make no sense – left the 'N' at the front and the 'er' at the end and published it that way. I didn't agree, but I understood. I think any debate around language should print the key words in full and I did feel to blank one but not the other was a flaw. But it was the newspaper's call and I respect that. By the way, I have written the N word in full throughout this column, too. If it does not appear that way, that is also an editorial decision, not mine. But again, I understand.

I believe a person or group can call themselves what they like providing they have a direct relationship with word, As a middle aged, middle class, white guy I am uncomfortable with black people using the N-word, however I don't feel it's my place to tell them what they can or cannot say. If the Spurs supporters all agree it is acceptable, who are we to argue? Jason 123, Burton.

How about the 0.4 per cent of the country that is actually Jewish, Jason? Not all of them are Tottenham fans. Don't they get a say?

I have nothing against Jews. In fact as a Muslim I consider them brothers along with Christians. But even after 35 years of supporting Tottenham, I still get offended seeing racist Israeli flags there. Anyone who supports Israel is racist and I don't want my club associated with a racist apartheid state. We can't have it both ways. Jamaal, London.

Apartheid state? Please do your research. Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where all religions are respected, as well as colour and the gay community. Lifes2short, Malaga.

I do not regard Israel as a racist state, but I know some do. I think what we are seeing here is that not everyone views this issue in the same shades of black and white and to equate club identity with solidarity with the local Jewish community and by extension support for the state of Israel is to play fast and loose with the politics of it all. Or maybe the guy with the Israeli flag just thinks it is a simple extension of Jewish culture. You know, like matzo balls; or bagels.

A youngster in my local thought 'Yid' only meant Tottenham fan and had no idea of its Jewish history. Generations are now growing up with that as their primary meaning – you can't stop cultural shifts. Banzai Guerrilla, London.

Indeed, but it does rather prove my point that this idea of solidarity with the local Jewish community may be overplayed.

All fans try to wind up opponents. It's just banter. Judgement Man, Oslo.

Rather high stakes banter, though, if it lets anti-Semitism in through the back door. Not your concern, though, is it – playing with racial politics in the United Kingdom from the safety of Norway.

As a Tottenham fan, I do not see how this is offensive. We are the Yid Army so surely Chelsea singing that they hate yids is about Tottenham and their fans only and not aimed at the Jewish community. The hissing on the other hand, that is offensive. Lauren, London.

And you really can't see how one begets the other, Lauren? David Baddiel has long campaigned on this issue. One of his most powerful arguments is a recollection of hearing a Chelsea fan start off with some fairly entry level anti-Semitic behaviour – some light hissing – before growing in confidence and feeling sufficiently empowered to end with a full throated cry of 'F*** the f****** Yids! F*** the f****** Jews!' You don't think the Morata song is going to unleash those same emotions?

As a Jew and a football supporter there is no way I can accept the word 'yid' as not being derogatory in any sense. I'm always dismayed to hear it and I do think it doesn't need to be used at all. Equaliser, London.

Yes, but you don't count mate. A load of folk without a Jewish bone in their bodies are reclaiming it on your behalf. Maybe you missed that meeting.

I did read that the way to say it in Yiddish is 'yeed', so maybe that could be a compromise with the Tottenham fans using that. Ben123456, Colchester.

What about Spurs? Isn't the team called Spurs?

'They tried to stop us but look what it did – the thing I love most is being a ...' Derbyshire Cockney, Derbyshire.

Don't tempt me.

Chelsea fans have been accused in the past of aiming anti-Semitic chants at Tottenham. Note: picture is for illustrative purposes only 

As a Spurs fan of 60 years I have witnessed many disgusting sights, home and away. West Ham fans shouting racial abuse at their own player Clyde Best and throwing bananas at him made me feel sick. Leeds fans marching down Tottenham High Street chanting 'Seig heil' and singing about gas chambers the same. Going to Elland Road and hearing Albert Johannson called the N-word. The anti-Semitic and racist scum that frequent West Ham, Chelsea, Millwall, Leeds and many other clubs are allowed to get away with it by the clubs and the police. It's up to the clubs to stop this hate. Dar1, Southend.

Agreed. I think Chelsea in particular have been very proactive over the Morata chant.

We've reclaimed Yid, and it works to a tee by highlighting the latent racism of the scum. Highway68, United Kingdom.

Surely it only works to a tee when others stop using it, rather than it becoming more widely used than ever?

All the non-Jewish Tottenham supporters saying they're reclaiming the word from anti-Semitic Chelsea and West Ham fans: first of all who asked you to? And secondly, how can you reclaim something that was never yours? Someone Else2, United Kingdom.

I'm with you here. There are rather a lot of people claiming to speak on behalf of the Jews of north London. Take this next gentleman…

Some Tottenham fans argue that they have taken ownership of the word to support Jewish fans

As a lifelong Tottenham fan and real life Yid, what you clearly don't get is the pride of the club's Jewish community at being loved by those not of the same faith. The sense of belonging has always been strong and in my own story this goes back to the 1960s. My love for all things Tottenham Hotspur and our wonderful support is unrivalled. We put others to shame. RJD26, Brisbane.

You say when you started going, but not when you stopped. That's important because the Yid Army chant is relatively new, so how do we know you've experienced it? Put it like this, I don't know how someone in Brisbane presumes to speak for a part of the world he is separated from by several continents. Short of setting up camp at the South Pole you couldn't have put more space between yourself and Tottenham if you tried.

Good luck with this Samuel, the front wheels love it. With total ease, West London.

We have moderators on this site, as I have said before, people whose job is to weed out abusive language and they do it pretty well. But, for those who don't know rhyming slang, allow me to explain. A front wheel is a front wheel skid – rhyming slang for yid. The word yid in this context might have been censored, as would kike, or Shylock, after the moneylender in Merchant of Venice. But our poster took a chance, and slipped one through. 

This is what we're up against. Racism 2.0 – the multi-layered anti-Semitism the West Ham fans came up with at White Hart Lane that time, which I detailed in the column. Racists know just how far to push it, so it is not as simple as upholding bans and giving orders. We've got to be one step ahead.

As a Tottenham fan I do not know any others who would be offended by Chelsea's chant. It's a bit of banter, who cares. If anyone is actually offended by this they need to take a long hard look at themselves. Embee1, London.

Not so worried about offended Tottenham fans, more worried about offended Jews who appear to be the collateral damage in this. Either way, God help us if this passes for banter. Fortunately we'll have a real comedian along by the end. You just need to be patient, people.

You can only be offended if you want to be. It's a choice. I feel sorry for the offenders – what a sad life they must have if being offensive gives them a buzz. Hhmmmm, Singapore.

I think it's a little more complex than that. If there is a word that is such a trigger for you that its mere utterance causes you to behave in an irrational manner – to burst into tears, or become violently enraged – then, yes, that word has too great a hold, and you need to find a way to rise above it. This does not mean you can't be offended, however. If a Jewish person, at being called a 'yid' by a Chelsea fan, loses his mind and gets arrested, he has to learn to keep that side of his character in check. This does not affect his right to take offence.

I agree it could quite easily be dropped by Spurs supporters, but it would always grate that the decision was forced upon us. It seems to me the term is naturally fading anyway. Therefore it's a bit unfair that the criticism is aimed at Spurs and not the real culprits: opposing fans in need of enlightenment. To stop other fans saying it, we have to stop first and say we were wrong all along? Witagh, London.

No, you don't. Nowhere in the original column or this lengthy exchange is any blame attached to Tottenham fans. We all know who the bad guys are here, it almost goes without saying. My point concerns a different plan of attack than this rather out-dated reclamation which, plainly, is creating more problems than it solves.

Tottenham fans not singing 'Yid Army' will not stop the idiots at West Ham or Chelsea from singing anti-Semitic songs or hissing noises eluding to gas. Considering both clubs are, in part, Jewish-owned I find it beyond belief they have not cracked down on these fans. Maybe if these clubs stopped, then there would not be a need for Tottenham fans to use the word Yid in another context. How about the racists clean up their act first, Mr Samuel – then the club might talk about change. Stephen, London.

There is a great climate change cartoon. 'What if the whole thing turns out to be a myth,' says the man in the suit, 'and we just make the planet a better place for nothing.' You see my point, Stephen, yes?

This all actually started out when, Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham, Millwall, Leeds and Birmingham fans started to make the obscene hissing noises of the gas chambers. OyOy, London.

If you're going to presume to give a history lesson, Oy, at least know the history. The anti-Semitic chants came long before the hissing noises, which were a sly way of provoking the Tottenham fans without risking arrest. A racist abuser can be picked out – a hisser is harder to spot.

I've seen plenty of orthodox Jews at White Hart Lane, and not once have I seen them fail to join in with the classic chant. Martin is begging for views on his pointless article. Iain Yeezy McClune, London.

No, you haven't. Liotta, England.

By orthodox, do you mean Hasidic? If so, I'm with Liotta. Been to Tottenham games hundreds of times, passed many Hasidic Jews in the Stamford Hill area en route, can't remember too many inside the ground, let alone singing 'Yid Army'. Orthodox Jews, which is a far broader term, would be different. Most observant Jews would consider themselves in some way orthodox.

People need to get over themselves. Those offended by words are the real problem. UKIPGovernment, London.

Spurs fans had a night to remember at Wembley on Wednesday but have issues to address

And on this intellectual bombshell, we draw to a close. I promised you a comedian, so here goes. 

If you go on Youtube, type in 'Doug Stanhope' and the word 'Jews' you should be able to find footage from a show called No Refunds. The clue is in the name. Don't click yet. This next part is very important. If you are the sort of person who is easily offended – no, scratch that, if you are the sort of person who can be offended at all – do not press play. 

There are extremes of swearing, and opinion – and at one stage a mime – and I wouldn't want to take you beyond your personal comfort zone unless you were a willing participant. If you are game, however, and a believer in free speech, you will be rewarded with intelligent comedy about organised religion – not just Judaism – about the nature of human identity, and what our chosen identity says about us. 

I hope throughout you will be laughing as much as I was (the Nazi-Pope digression is a particular favourite). I love Doug Stanhope's work. I was invited to watch the Super Bowl at his house once and it's a huge regret that I didn't go. 

But here's the thing. As I say, the routine isn't racist or anti-Semitic. It's actually, mostly, about tolerance and intellectual self-determination. But, when you've finished, go down and spend some time in the realm of the comments – particularly on the version of it (and there are several competing posts) that has been helpfully tagged 'F*** the Jews'. See how Doug's message was heard in the minds of genuine racists and anti-Semites. 

Now, revisit for a moment the idea that by chanting 'Yid Army' the Tottenham fans are reclaiming the word and teaching the racist bullies a lesson, rather than playing happily on their turf. That's my point really. Until next time.