West Ham condemn anti-Palestine chant aimed at debutant Manor Solomon after Burnley draw

West Ham United have called on supporters to stop singing an anti-Palestine chant about Israeli winger Manor Solomon, issuing a formal statement ahead of their first home Championship fixture of the season against Charlton at the London Stadium on Saturday.

The chant was heard from a section of travelling West Ham fans during last Sunday’s EFL Championship opener at Burnley — the same match in which Solomon, 27, marked his competitive debut for the club with a goal in a draw at Turf Moor.

In their statement, the east London club described the chant as “offensive and divisive” and reminded supporters that “equality, equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the club.” They added that “each and every supporter is an ambassador” and that every fan “should be free to enjoy watching their team play football without fear, discrimination or abuse.”

“We encourage our supporters to sing loud and proud about their football club and the players wearing the claret and blue shirt — but never in a way that creates division or causes offence among fellow fans,” the club said.

Solomon joined West Ham this summer on a free transfer from fellow London club Tottenham Hotspur, signing a three-year deal. He has earned 49 caps for Israel, scoring eight international goals, and brings considerable experience to a side that was relegated from the Premier League last season.

The winger began his career at Maccabi Petah Tikva before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk, where he won three Ukrainian Premier League titles. He spent time on loan at Fulham before joining Spurs in 2023, subsequently going out on loan to Leeds United — where he won the Championship — as well as Villarreal and Fiorentina.