Roman
Abramovich has said Chelsea are a club "open to all" as he voiced concerns
over a rise in instances of anti-Semitism around the world.
The billionaire Blues owner spoke of a "battle" against anti-Semitism and
invoked the horrors of the Holocaust as a reminder of the atrocities that
can result from a failure to tackle hate.
Abramovich, who is Jewish, made the comments as Chelsea beat MLS side New
England Revolution 3-0 in a friendly held as part of the London club's 'Say
No to Antisemitism' campaign.
Writing in the programme, he said: "While people know us for our teams and
our clubs on the pitch, sport is about far more than trophies. It is about
ensuring our organisations play a positive role in all our communities.
"It has always been important to me to create a club that is welcoming to
everyone - we actively celebrate our cultural and religious diversity.
"However, we are all too often reminded there is more to be done. The
Holocaust was a crime without parallel in history.
"We must never forget such atrocities and must do our utmost to prevent this
from ever happening again. And yet, around the world we are seeing a rise in
instances of anti-Semitism."
The Blues squad visited Boston's Holocaust memorial on Wednesday ahead of
the match at the Gillette Stadium, which is also home to the New England
Patriots.
Chelsea have seen challenges in tackling cases of anti-Semitism by fans and
they have been praised for their efforts in eradicating the issue.
The Blues launched their campaign in January 2018 to raise awareness and
educate about anti-Semitism in football, vowing to take a zero-tolerance
approach.
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