Player's union chairman Clarke Carlisle has waded into the debate over Tottenham fans' use of the word "Yid" in chants, branding the term "derogatory and offensive."

The Professional Footballers' Association chair backed the FA which has warned that its continued use could lead to prosecutions.

Prime Minister David Cameron told the Jewish Chronicle in a recent interview that he opposed the use of hate laws to bring cases against Spurs fans.

"There's a difference between Spurs fans self-describing themselves as Yids and someone calling someone a Yid as an insult," he declared.

But Carlisle condemned the continued use of the word - a traditional slur targeted at Britain's Jewish community that is chanted by some Spurs fans as a mark of defiance.

"Do they have a right to appropriate that term when it would be indescribably offensive to anyone else?" asked Carlisle.

"David Baddiel says that's how it feels as a Jewish man going to Tottenham and hearing them chant that.

"If it is highly offensive to him then I think Spurs have to take that on board, because he will not be the only person.

"Spurs fans may not intend for it to be offensive but it will be perceived to be offensive by a section of the community and the law states that's not allowed - it's not even my personal opinion, that's what the law states."

Comedian Baddiel has condemned the word's use by fans, saying there would be an outcry if a supporters of a team with roots in black communities claimed the right to chant similarly derogatory terms.

Tottenham responded to the FA warning by issuing a questionnaire to all season ticket holders asking them their opinion on the issue.

Fans replied to the threat of legal action on Saturday by singing "Yid army!" and "We'll sing what we want" during their side's 2-0 win over Norwich.

But charity the Community Security Trust issued a statement on Tuesday saying that although the chants were not equivalent to the hostile anti-semitic abuse levelled at Spurs supporters by many opposing fans, "it remains an offensive word that can upset many Jews both inside and outside the football context.

"Ultimately, ridding football of anti-semitism needs to involve Spurs fans voluntarily dropping the Y-word from their songbook."

Michael Jones