Norwich City Football Club's 'inclusivity ambassador' sparks fury after being accused of antisemitism

Norwich City has become embroiled in an antisemitism controversy after a member of its supporter panel and ambassador for the Her Game Too campaign urged the club to refuse signing Israeli footballers.

Jessica Pye sparked outrage when she responded to speculation linking the Championship side with a potential move for Israeli international winger Liel Abada.

The 24-year-old currently plays for Charlotte FC in the United States under former Norwich manager Dean Smith, and has reportedly attracted interest from both the Canaries and Birmingham City.

Pye, who served as the club's representative for the anti-sexism initiative Her Game Too, posted the objections on X, demanding the club impose a blanket ban on players from Israel.

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In posts on the social media platform, Pye drew a direct parallel with sanctions against Russian athletes, writing: "It's a no from me.

"You wouldn't sign a Russian, so why sign an Israeli?" She followed this with the demand: "Ban Israel. No Israeli signings."

The supporter panel member went further in a series of messages, some of which were subsequently removed, levelling accusations of "war crimes" and "genocide" against Israel as justification for a proposed boycott.

Pye also targeted Abada personally, arguing that his failure to publicly criticise his country's actions was tantamount to supporting them, stating: "While Abada hasn't explicitly made any statement in favour of his country, he also hasn't said anything against it which does count far more for being in support than not."

The Campaign Against Antisemitism swiftly condemned Pye's comments, characterising them as a "drip drip of hatred" and demanding Norwich City immediately remove the fan from its inclusivity panel.

A spokesman for the charity stated: "It is precisely this sort of drip-drip hatred in our cultural institutions that the prime minister was referring to in his speech this week, calling for action across society.

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"Football is no exception."

The organisation argued that boycotting citizens of the Jewish state was "not only plainly immoral" but potentially illegal if implemented.

Fellow Norwich supporters also criticised the remarks, with one describing them as "ridiculous" and insisting individuals should not be held accountable for their governments' actions.

The controversy emerged days after Sir Keir Starmer addressed rising antisemitism in Britain following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, calling it "a crisis for all of us" and "a test of our values".

Norwich City have announced that Pye had resigned from the supporter group. GB News has reached out to the club and Pye for comment.

Rather than stepping back from the controversy, Pye subsequently shared another post on social media dismissing concerns about antisemitism as an "entirely constructed moral panic, invented by the Zionist lobby and their servile allies in Downing Street and the rapid dogs of the press".

Pye, who is transgender and also campaigns for trans supporters, had previously been recognised as a matchday "community hero" by the club.

Abada himself departed Celtic in 2024 following tensions with sections of the Scottish club's fanbase over the conflict in Gaza, reportedly suffering abuse from pro-Palestinian supporters.

He has contributed two assists from eight MLS matches so far this year, though is yet to score.

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