Jeremy Corbyn: Players should walk off if racially abused at World Cup

Jeremy Corbyn is concerned the 2018 World Cup will be ruined by racism and has encouraged players to walk off the pitch if they are subjected to abuse of that manner.

The leader of the United Kingdom's Labour party was attending a Show Racism the Red Card event at the Emirates Stadium, home of his beloved Arsenal, and hopes Russia uses the tournament to take a tough stance against racism.

"I would support any player walking off as a way of saying: 'I'm not prepared to tolerate this abuse,'" Corbyn told the Guardian's Martha Kelner.

"I am concerned the World Cup will be overshadowed by racism, but let's be optimistic. The World Cup is (the) biggest sporting event outside the Olympics. Half the world's population will be aware of it and (an) audience of billions (will be) watching in some form or other.

"What a message for Russia and the whole world if they decide at the very beginning to adopt an absolute zero tolerance of racism in any form."

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

The U.K. certainly isn't immune to racism, especially in football. West Bromwich Albion's Jay Rodriguez was charged with racially abusing an opponent on Thursday, and Manchester City fans were filmed airing antisemitic chants before a match with Tottenham Hotspur in January 2017. There's also an ongoing investigation into Graham Rix and Gwyn Williams' alleged racial abuse of Chelsea youth-teamers.

Corbyn notes Tottenham fans aren't absolved from blame either, as a vocal minority have adopted an antisemitic name - the "Yid Army" - for themselves. Examples of both racism and homophobia have been present at north London derbies, and the rivalry's latest instalment is set for Saturday at Wembley.

"Yes, football fans get very passionate but that is not acceptable and not allowed," Corbyn said. "Yid chants are unacceptable; it plays into something that's not very good and we should be saying: 'We're the Spurs' or 'We're the Arsenal.' Stick to your club, it's your club that unites you.

"The idea of adopting a term to neutralise it doesn't really work because it is identifying a club by an ethnic group or faith, whereas you should be identifying club through supporters. Calling Arsenal fans Gooners or Gunners is fine because that is what it is because of the origins or heritage of the club."

Prime Minister Theresa May did not attend the event, but published a message of support stating there is "absolutely no place for racism and hate crime in our society."