Wasim Haq deleted the post on X soon after it was posted in the early hours of Sunday
  • TheTelegraph@alien.topOPBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    From The Telegraph:

    The Football Association has been dragged into a fresh Israel row after a council member posted on social media that “Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu”.

    Wasim Haq, who also has roles with England Golf and the Lawn Tennis Association, immediately apologised as campaign groups accused him of anti-Semitism.

    Haq, who joined the FA’s council in 2019 as a “BAME Football Communities Representative”, wrote in a now deleted post on X: “Netanyahu has sacrificed his own people to maintain power…whilst #Palestinians are trying to maintain their sanity. Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu.”

    Among those to express immediate concern was Lord Wolfson of Tredegar KC, who chairs the Football Regulatory Authority which also sits within the FA.

    “I’m very concerned that a member of the FA Council [who’s also an Observing Board Member of the Inclusion Advisory Board] posted in these terms,” said the peer, who resigned as a junior justice minister in the Government last year.

    “I have already asked for an immediate, formal and urgent investigation,” he said, adding that the FA had “adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism in January 2021.”

    Haq’s message was deleted soon after being posted in the early hours of Sunday, but it was discovered in archived messages by GnasherJew; a campaign group which uses Open Source Intelligence to uncover anti-Semitism.

    The FA, which introduced black and ethnic minorities football communities as part of 2017 governance reforms to further help diversify its council, said: “He has deleted the tweet and apologises for causing offence.”

    Haq’s post comes just weeks after the FA sparked anger among other members of its own council after a perceived failure to condemn historic tweets on boycotting Israel by Inclusion Advisory Board chair Deji Davies.

    Davies had deleted his Twitter posts from 2013, and issued a statement saying the tweet was deleted “as I do not wish to cause any further offence”, that he continues to learn about the subject and stood by the FA’s message of peace and unity for all.

    Haq, meanwhile, has been openly posting messages of support for Palestine in recent days. Several messages across his platforms include posts about children innocently caught up in the conflict in Gaza. His latest post with a video of a young girl attached says: “I’m only ten…I don’t know what to do…”

    GnasherJew, which sent Telegraph Sport evidence proving the Hitler message had been sent, said Haq was a “disgrace”.

    “Introducing you to Wasim Haq,” the organisation posted online. “This vile post needs no explanation. Suffice to say he’s said nothing about the 7th Oct massacre.”

    Haq has been approached independently by Telegraph Sport for comment.

    As well as being a council member at the FA, Haq is a senior independent director at England Golf, a nominated council member at the LTA and senior advisor to the CEO at Golf Saudi.

    Haq has also been managing partner at First Team Partners with “over 25 years of experience and has held senior management roles across the UK strategic consulting landscape in the healthcare, sports marketing and sports recruitment industries”.

    He said after his appointment to his unpaid role at the FA: “Whatever your background, in England, there are opportunities for everyone from all walks of life to be involved. I really believe The FA is ‘for all’ and I am delighted to be involved.”

    After the conflict erupted when Hamas launched a terrorist attack in Israel, the FA had come under criticism from Jewish leaders for announcing the Wembley Stadium arch would not be illuminated in blue and white.

    Read the article here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/11/12/fa-council-member-compares-benjamin-netanyahu-adolf-hitler/