British soccer head apologizes for equating Star of David with swastika

Martin Glenn apologized for saying, “it could be the Star of David… it could be a swastika… these are the things we don’t want” on the field.

By: AP and World Israel News Staff

The head of the English Football Association (FA) has apologized for “any offense” caused after equating the Star of David with the swastika while discussing religious and political symbols that should be prohibited in the game.

FA CEO Martin Glenn had said those symbols are “the things we don’t want” being displayed by teams. Britain’s Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) called Glenn’s comments “offensive and inappropriate.”

Glenn said he will speak to the JLC and soccer anti-discrimination group Kick It Out to apologize.

“I would like to apologize for any offense caused by the examples I gave when referring to political and religious symbols in football, specifically in reference to the Star of David, which is a hugely important symbol to Jewish people all over the world,” he stated.

The UK-based Campaign Against Anti-Semitism (CAA) dismissed Glenn’s apology as “weak.”

“We find Mr Glenn’s weak apology to be unacceptable. However, even a mealy mouthed apology is a start and an acknowledgement. He must now commit to undertaking education and training on antisemitism. Unless he does so we consider this incident to remain unresolved,” the anti-Semitism watchdog stated.