FA investigating after Inclusion Advisory Board member issues apology after claiming 'Hitler would be proud of Israel's prime minister'

Wasim Haq, who is part of the FA Inclusion Advisory Board that reports into the main Football Association Board, also has roles with the Lawn Tennis Association and England Golf; he has deleted his social media post and apologised but the FA and LTA have opened investigations

By Rob Harris, Sky News correspondent

Sunday 12 November 2023 22:20, UK

The Football Association and Lawn Tennis Association have opened investigations into a member of their top decision-making bodies after he said: «Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu.»

Wasim Haq, who was appointed by the FA and LTA Councils to speak for diverse communities and inclusion, apologised for causing offence and deleted Saturday's post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after the governing bodies were contacted about the comments on Israel's war with Hamas.

Lord Wolfson KC, and chair of the FA's Football Regulatory Authority, indicated to Sky News that the post would go against the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance code, which the FA adopted and warns against comparing contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.

Writing on X, Mr Haq said of the Israeli prime minister on Saturday: «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.»

More than three hours after he deleted the post, Mr Haq said on X: «It has been brought to my attention that a tweet I published yesterday has caused offence.

»I have deleted the tweet and apologise unreservedly to anyone that has felt offended."

In response to criticism, Mr Haq posted on Sunday: «My tweet was directly in relation to comparing two individuals who in my eyes have caused