ESPN takes on antisemitic fantasy football teams

The US sports network ESPN has clamped down on fantasy football teams with antisemitic names.

The decision to remove from its website teams with names including "Jews are Immoral" and "Jews Are Terrible" came after the human rights organisation the Simon Wiesenthal Centre highlighted the issue, after a Jewish parent noticed the content while signing up his son.

The teams also had slogans such as "Jews love pennies" or "Burn Jews Wherever Possible".

ESPN said there was no way it could fully monitor the enormous range of user-generated fantasy football teams registered on its website, but after being alerted took immediate action against the antisemitic groups. The centre praised the quick response.

"We trust that ESPN will take all the necessary steps to make it as difficult as possible for any racist or antisemite to leverage their popular site," said associate dean Rabbi Abraham Cooper.

    Last updated: 11:29am, September 12 2011