Wasim Haq has resigned as a member of the Football Association council after saying “Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu”. Haq, who was suspended after a post on social media about Israel’s war with Hamas led him to be accused of antisemitism this month, said that his decision to step down was “the best course of action for the FA and myself” and reiterated that his comments were not aimed at the Jewish community.
The resignation has come before the conclusion of an investigation into the post. Haq, who joined the FA as a BAME Football Communities representative in 2019, had already been sacked by the Lawn Tennis Association as an independent councillor. He is being investigated by England Golf, where he holds a role similar to that at the FA.
The controversy was sparked by Haq, who had previously left a position on the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board, posting on X: “Netanyahu has sacrificed his own people to maintain power…whilst #Palestinians are trying to maintain their sanity. Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu.”
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The FA initially said that Haq had deleted the post and apologised for causing offence. But Lord Wolfson, who chairs the FA’s Football Regulatory Committee, called for a stronger response. English football’s governing body soon launched an investigation and called the post “unacceptable” and “highly offensive”.
Haq was suspended two days later, with the FA saying his future depended on the outcome of an investigation. Haq wrote to the FA’s chair, Debbie Hewitt, on Thursday to offer his resignation.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you of my decision to resign as a member of The FA Council with immediate effect,” Haq wrote. “I have determined this is the best course of action for the Football Association and myself.
“As someone who has worked closely with many Jewish people over the years and created meaningful and valued friendships, the most painful part of this process is knowing that some of those friends and colleagues may not forgive me for the misunderstanding and hurt I have unintentionally caused. I take full responsibility and reiterate my apology to them and all those affected.
“My comment was a direct criticism of a politician, not about a race or a religious group. In expressing those feelings, I chose the wrong words entirely and that has impacted the leadership position that I hold at the FA.”
Haq added that he would be meeting members of the Jewish community to “share and understand”. He offered to help the FA set up a “systematic process in which we can bring communities together in the future”.
An FA spokesperson said: “We accept Wasim Haq’s resignation from his role on the FA Council with immediate effect. We also reiterate our stance that football is about unity and not division, and we welcome his apology to the Jewish community for the unacceptable comments that he made on social media.”
The FA faced criticism after refusing to light the Wembley arch in the colours of the Israeli flag after the attack by Hamas on 7 October. It has since decided that the arch will no longer be lit for social causes and to show solidarity after terrorist attacks and natural disasters.