West Ham Face Probe Over 'Hitler' Chants

West Ham will face an investigation over alleged anti-Semitic chants during their game at Tottenham, the FA has confirmed.

Just four days after a Spurs fan was stabbed before Tottenham's game against Lazio, some West Ham fans appeared to aim offensive chants towards the home crowd about the attack.

"Viva Lazio" and "can we stab you every week" could be heard - and the sound of hissing also came from the away section of White Hart Lane, an apparent mocking of the mass execution of Jews in gas chambers during the Holocaust.

Towards the end of Sunday's match, which Spurs won 3-1, some West Ham supporters were heard singing: "Adolf Hitler, he's coming for you."

The chants during the match were reported to police by the Society of Black Lawyers.

In a statement, the FA said: "The FA can confirm it has begun investigating reports of abusive chanting at the Tottenham versus West Ham United fixture.

"The FA governance department has this morning contacted both clubs and will continue to make enquiries into the matter in the coming days.

"We note the statement issued by West Ham and encourage clubs to identify and ban for life any individuals involved in incidents of abusive chanting.

"There is no place for anti-Semitism or any form of discrimination in football. The FA is committed to working with the clubs, leagues, fans groups, the police, CPS and community stakeholders to play our part in addressing this unacceptable behaviour."

Tottenham will be submitting video evidence as part of their report to the FA.

A club spokesman said: "We are currently compiling a full report for the Football Association and shall be submitting this with all our evidence including relevant CCTV footage."

Peter Herbert, the chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers, said: "As far as we're concerned there has to be zero tolerance of this. If these people can be identified on camera and prosecuted then that is something we'd like to see happen."

West Ham insisted they will take the "strongest possible action", including life bans for any fans found guilty of anti-Semitic chants at Tottenham.

A statement from the club read: "West Ham United are in contact with Tottenham Hotspur to assist them with their investigation into the conduct of a small number of supporters and alleged inappropriate chanting during yesterday's match at White Hart Lane.

"West Ham United will take the strongest possible action against any of their supporters, including enforcing life bans from the club, that are found guilty of behaviour which is categorically not condoned by West Ham United."

At least 11 Spurs fans were injured during violence in Rome, in which 50 masked assailants stormed into a pub in the city, with Essex builder Ashley Mills most seriously hurt.

The president of Italy's football association has apologised to the English FA over the affair, while two men have appeared in court.