A group of international envoys and coordinators on antisemitism have written to leading European football clubs to urge them to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.

It is hoped that harnessing football’s global reach will help clubs train stewards and employees in identifying and combatting antisemitic acts. The 14 signatories of the letter told clubs that the Covid-19 pandemic had led to a rise in antisemitism around the world and said that adopting the IHRA definition would “send out a very strong message about your club’s ethos”.

Chelsea became the first sports team to sign up to the IHRA definition in January and Lord John Mann, the UK government’s adviser on antisemitism, told the Guardian the club had demonstrated football’s power to inspire change.