West Ham urges fans to stop anti-Palestine chant for Israeli player Solomon

West Ham United have urged supporters to stop singing an "offensive and divisive" chant about Israeli winger Manor Solomon which includes the line that he "hates Palestine".

The chant was heard among a section of travelling West Ham supporters during the club’s 2-2 Championship draw against Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday, when Solomon scored on his debut following his recent move from Tottenham Hotspur.

“Manor Solomon’s on my mind and he hates Palestine,” supporters could be heard singing in footage circulated on social media.

The chant is sung to the tune of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", best known in the UK through Manfred Mann’s 1964 version

West Ham said on Thursday that it was aware of the chant, which it described as carrying an “anti-Palestine message”, and appealed to supporters not to repeat it ahead of Saturday’s first home league match of the season against Charlton Athletic.

“The club is aware of an offensive and divisive chant, carrying an anti-Palestine message, which was sung by some of our travelling supporters during our opening match against Burnley on Sunday afternoon,” West Ham said.

"We recognise that singing and chanting are an integral part of the matchday experience. We encourage our supporters to sing loudly and proudly for their club and the players wearing the claret and blue shirt, but never in a way that creates division or causes offence to any fellow supporters."

The club said every supporter should be able to attend matches "without fear, discrimination or abuse", adding that it was committed to ensuring fans felt "safe, respected and that they belong".

West Ham also invoked the club’s history and its roots in one of London’s most culturally diverse areas, saying equality, diversity and inclusion remained central to its identity.

"We expect everyone who represents the club, whether players, staff, officials or supporters, to embrace these values and to ensure that, regardless of their background or beliefs, we are, as our name suggests, united," the statement said.

Solomon, an Israel international, joined West Ham from Tottenham earlier this month on a three-year contract. He previously played for Fulham and spent the 2024-25 season on loan at Leeds United, helping the Yorkshire club win promotion to the Premier League.

The chant is not new. Leeds condemned supporters for singing the same anti-Palestine lyric while Solomon was playing for the club, and in February 2025 introduced increased CCTV surveillance and stewarding at Elland Road, warning that fans caught participating could receive club banning orders.

Solomon has publicly expressed support for Israel since the beginning of its war on Gaza, with his social media activity previously attracting criticism from pro-Palestinian football supporters.

His moves between clubs have also prompted protests from some fans over his political views and public statements on the conflict.

The latest controversy comes amid growing expressions of solidarity with Palestinians across football during Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and its renewed assault on the West Bank.

Celtic supporters renewed their long-running solidarity with Palestine during Wednesday's Champions League play-off victory against LASK, displaying a banner highlighting Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem and Lajee Celtic, the Palestinian sports club named after the Scottish giants.

The team grew out of the Green Brigade's 2016 "Match the Fine for Palestine" campaign, launched after UEFA fined Celtic over a mass display of Palestinian flags during a Champions League qualifier against Israeli side Hapoel Be'er Sheva, raising over £170,000 for Palestinian causes.