Arsenal staff member facing investigation over antisemitic posts and could face further investigation from the FA.
Arsenal staff member has come under fire as the club are investigating a series of antisemitic social media posts from an account allegedly belonging to him.
It is believed that Mark Bonnick, a kitman at the club’s academy in north London, is the subject of an internal investigation after posts on an account on X that used his name and photo revealed that he had several conversations with Jewish people. On Wednesday afternoon, the account was placed in protected status, and on Wednesday evening, it seems to have been removed.
The conversations, which have occurred over the previous month, were brought to light by the antisemitism-fighting account @Never_Again2020.
On 24 November Bonnick apparently posted to David Collier, an investigative journalist and prominent antisemitism campaigner, in relation to Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza: “Yes it is all about Jewish supremacy & not wanting to share the land Ethnic cleansing.” Another alleged post to Collier on 4 December suggested that “Zionist Israel” had a “persecution complex”.
On 1 December Bonnick’s alleged post to Heidi Bachram, a Jew and campaigner against antisemitism, said: “Because you didn’t scream when Zionist Israel refused their release Hamas refused to release all hostages in October … You abandoned them … Refused to bring them home … Your silence was deafening … Now you want others to scream … Morals integrity honesty none … Mark of Cain.”
A further alleged post to other users said: “Why should they be protected anymore than any other community? Some see this as the problem Jewish communities thinking they should be put before others.” On 29 November the account allegedly asked other users: “What about the Jews that attack Christians?”
An Arsenal spokesperson said: “We are investigating this matter in line with our internal policies and procedures. Arsenal consequently stands against all forms of abuse and discrimination.”