The Lawn Tennis Association has axed an independent council member for saying that Adolf Hitler would be proud of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Wasim Haq, who was appointed by the governing body in 2021 to help promote diversity within tennis, was sacked on Monday for his social media post, a statement from the LTA confirmed.
“The LTA Board considered this matter today and agreed that the tweet posted by Wasim Haq on 11 November was unacceptable and in no way reflects the LTA’s position or values,” the statement began.
“Therefore the Board have agreed that Wasim Haq will be removed from his role as an independent councillor with immediate effect.” Haq has since deleted his post on X, formerly Twitter, which read: “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.”
Haq has also been suspended as a Football Association council member pending an investigation as of Tuesday. After deleting the post, he apologised for any offence he caused and insisted he is not anti-Semitic.
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He wrote: “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.”
Haq later added: “My tweet was directly in relation to comparing two individuals who in my eyes have caused contemporary and historical irreparable harm to victimised communities on both sides of this tragic conflict.
“I am not and never have been the kind of person that targets anyone or any community over any difference ever. I am NOT antisemitic and have never been accused of being so.
“I unreservedly apologise if this was taken in any other way. Anyone who knows me will know that I stand to be counted on behalf of every community that is being marginalised in any way whatsoever and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.
“To all those that are offended, I deeply apologise – and I continue to pray for an end to the needless loss of any life during this tragic conflict.”
He wrote: “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.’
He later added: “My tweet was directly in relation to comparing two individuals who in my eyes have caused contemporary and historical irreparable harm to victimised communities on both sides of this tragic conflict.
