Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., February 25, 2008 Adar1 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 03:05 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Chelsea coach Avram Grant and his wife Tzofit. (Archives)
Last update - 10:24 21/02/2008
Chelsea's Israeli soccer coach gets anti-Semitic death threat
By The Associated Press and Haaretz Service
Tags: Chelsea, Israel, Avram Grant 

British police are investigating an anti-Semitic death threat sent to Chelsea's Israeli soccer coach Avram Grant and his wife.

Grant was in Greece for his team's Champions League match against Olympiakos on Tuesday when a parcel arrived at Chelsea's training ground in Cobham, 53 kilometers (33 miles) west of London.

A Chelsea staff member opened the package and found a note to Grant claiming that an accompanying amount of powder was lethal.
Advertisement
Local police closed the training ground before the powder was tested and found to be harmless.

According to the Daily Mail, one note read: "You are a back-stabbing Jewish bastard. When you open this letter you will die a very slow and painful death."

Another message made sexual threats against his wife, Tzofit, a famous Israeli television personality.

"Specific actions are being put in place to ensure Mr and Mrs Grant are safe," a Chelsea source said in response to the threat.

Grant arrived at Stamford Bridge in July 2007 as director of football and became manager in September, following the departure of the hugely popular Jose Mourinho, who led the team for three years.

The anti-Semitic element among the team's fans is relatively small, but even the moderate fans view Grant's appointment against the backdrop of his nationality and his religion.

While many fans disagree with former Conservative heritage minister David Mellor, who said that the only reason Grant was appointed is because he is a Russian Israeli at a club owned by an Israel-obsessed Russian, some do believe that the Jewish presence at the club's highest echelons, and Grant's personal relationship with club owner Roman Abramovich are the reasons for his appointment.

The chairman of Chelsea FC, Bruce Buck, condemned some fans' use of anti-Semitic taunts against the club's manager.

"We welcome all constructive points of view. But there have been a few which could be viewed as racist and anti-Semitic and that must stop immediately," Buck said. "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."


More Jewish World news and features

Related articles:
  • Chelsea FC slams anti-Semitic taunts directed at Israeli manager
  • Abramovich to Chelsea fans: Get used to Grant, he's here to stay
  • Avram Grant tastes defeat in first match as Chelsea coach
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    And the Oscar goes to...
    Olmert is pulling for Beaufort, saying 'it's time Israel won an Oscar.'
    Battling on foreign soil
    Israeli Americans voted Clinton, but Obama won the global primary.
      1.   Grant 15:20  |  Steves22 20/02/08
      2.   brings back memories of Munich Massacre 15:25  |  Avi 20/02/08
      3.   Welcome to the Clickfool homeland 15:56  |  Mayday mayday heeelp 20/02/08
      4.   yyyyyaaaaawwwwnnnnnn! 16:11  |  Sleepy 20/02/08
      5.   Another point about Munich massacre, Avi 16:50  |  Jackie 20/02/08
      6.   But it took a Jew .... 17:01  |  Ros 20/02/08
      7.   The wording. 17:25  |  David Nigel Braham 20/02/08
      8.   DAVID MELLOR 17:28  |  Alan 20/02/08
      9.   nice picture of kassams fired from civilian area 17:43  |  We got you! 20/02/08
      10.   Fight anti-Semitism. 17:57  |  Jean Van Daem 20/02/08
      11.   Not a soccer fan 18:04  |  Avrum 20/02/08
      12.   anti-what? 18:46  |  Rami 20/02/08
      13.   Grants death threats 18:46  |  Maurice 20/02/08
      14.   David Mellor 18:48  |  rich 20/02/08
      15.   anti-what? 18:50  |  Rami 20/02/08
      16.   Surprise Surprise 19:12  |  Ian 20/02/08
      17.   REALLY IS THIS SOMETHING NEW FROM THE ENGLISH 19:40  |  MJ 20/02/08
      18.   Most ugly, most stupid! 20:17  |  GoyMan 20/02/08
      19.   Most ugly, most stupid! 20:17  |  GoyMan 20/02/08
      20.   WHAT? Anti-Semitic sports fans? NO!!!! 20:32  |  :) 20/02/08
      21.   mellor and chelsea 21:19  |  english jew 20/02/08
      22.   re 17 21:29  |  english jew 20/02/08
      23.   GO HOME WHERE YOU BELONG 21:52  |  20x20 20/02/08
      24.   The problem is... 22:45  |  Esther 20/02/08
      25.   20x20 U go home where u belong misplaced son of Arabia 23:05  |  Assyoullah 20/02/08
      26.   M16 should investigate Clickschmuck 23:14  |  Paul Wood 20/02/08
      27.   Bush`s wisdom on Slowman`s education 23:25  |  Press Ass 20/02/08
      28.   Islamic nutcases not interested in football! 00:08  |  Palestinian Brit 21/02/08
      29.   Paul in Londistan 00:10  |  Palestinian Brit 21/02/08
      30.   Would someone tell us how many games Chel has lost since Grant 00:39  |  Alan 21/02/08
      31.   CHELSEA is doing MUCH better.Antisemites hate Jewish success 00:46  |  PETER SM 21/02/08
      32.   Mr D.MELLOR be proud of your part you played.!! The scumbags 00:52  |  PETER SM 21/02/08
      33.   PETER SM 05:25  |  geoff 21/02/08
      34.   THE MORE ANTI-SEMITIC THREATS.. 09:08  |  indrajaya 21/02/08
      35.   Pali Brit #29 00:09  |  ClickSchmuck 22/02/08
      36.   Brits Bad Sports who don`t play fair 02:59  |  PK 25/02/08
     Today Online
    Israel raises security as Gazans plan mass protest along border
    Responses: 343
    Gideon Levy: The Jerusalem issue is easy - half for Jews, half for Palestinians
    Responses: 89
    For IDF brigade, 'Hebron is like Wild West and army is the law'
    Responses: 57
    Study: Palestinian suicide bombers 'not mentally unstable'
    Responses: 133
    Neo-Nazi turns Haredi after discovering his Jewish roots
    Responses: 59
    Rosner's Domain
    Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR)
    Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza?
    What America wants from an operation in Gaza
    Guests: Jewish women don't want to be shut out
    U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation


    More Headlines
    03:01 Hamas vows to use 'all means' to break Gaza siege
    02:47 Three Hamas militants killed in two separate IAF strikes in Gaza
    02:26 Israel to boycott UN's 'Durban II' conference on racism
    02:40 In rare ruling, court orders settlers off Arab family's land
    17:55 Olmert pulls for Beaufort, says 'it's time Israel won an Oscar'
    20:39 Israeli Americans vote Clinton, but Obama wins global primary
    21:16 Barak rejects PM call to ease rules of engagement at border
    23:16 Iran confirms operation of new generation of centrifuges
    19:16 PM: We absolutely won't fortify every building in Gaza area
    21:31 Rebel Catholics: Pope caved on prayer to convert Jews
    23:16 Hamas loyalists turn preacher's funeral into W. Bank protest
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Long-term Israel programs
    MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants.
    7589 rockets fired so far
    HELP US TO HELP THEM
    Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach
    Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Dead Sea Salt
    Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved