Chelsea object to anti-semtitic abuse of Yossi Benayoun in Malaysia

Chelsea have lodged a formal complaint with the Malaysian Football Association alleging that the club's Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun was the subject of anti-semitic abuse during last week's friendly in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia, which is 60% Muslim and strongly supports the Palestinian people, does not recognise Israel and maintains no diplomatic ties with the state.

Large sections of the 84,980 crowd at the Bukit Jalil national stadium booed and jeered Benayoun's every touch in Chelsea's 1-0 victory over a Malaysian XI.

The 30-year-old, one of the first Israelis to play in the country, did not complain at the time and was substituted at the interval along with all the starting XI.

Chelsea have since conducted inquiries into the nature of the chants and have determined that the abuse was anti-semitic and have written in complaint to the Malaysian FA.

"Notwithstanding most fans behaving appropriately on the night, we believe Yossi was subjected to anti-semitic abuse by a number of supporters at the game," a spokesman said. "Such behaviour is offensive, totally unacceptable and has no place in football."

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