( CNN ) -- Mind your language or face arrest . That is the warning from London police to fans thinking of using the word `` yid '' at Sunday 's potentially explosive Premier League derby game between Tottenham and West Ham . England 's Football Association recently said the word -- deemed anti-Semitic but chanted by some Spurs fans as a term of endearment -- had `` no place in our game . '' Tottenham , based in North London , has a large contingent of Jewish fans , with some even calling themselves the `` Yid Army . '' `` Some words -- like the ' Y ' word -- which historically have been perceived by some as acceptable , cause harassment , alarm or distress to others , and people who use this language could be committing a criminal offense , '' the Metropolitan Police said in a statement on its website . Chief Superintendent Mick Johnson , Sunday 's match commander , added that the decision was n't taken lightly . `` This topic has been debated at length but our position is clear , racism and offensive language have no place in football or indeed in society , '' Johnson said . `` Those supporters who engage in such behavior should be under no illusion that they may be committing an offense and may be liable to a warning or be arrested . `` The Met has a long history of working with football clubs and the football authorities , including the FA , to educate , encourage and empower supporters to stamp out racism in football and to ensure that there is no misunderstanding about what constitutes racist language or behavior . '' The authorities will be hoping the game does n't mirror last season 's fixture at White Hart Lane , when a section of away fans chanted , 'Adolf Hitler is coming for you . ' A West Ham season-ticket holder was later banned for life for performing a Nazi style salute . It prompted then Hammers midfielder Yossi Benayoun , an Israeli international , to call the behavior `` embarrassing . '' Tottenham sits third in the Premier League , two points behind leader and North London rival Arsenal , while goal-shy West Ham is a point above the relegation zone .
Fans using the word `` yid '' at last season 's game between Adolf Hitler and London face arrest . Some fans brand themselves the `` Yid Army , '' though the term can be offensive . Arsenal had warned fans they face prosecution for uttering `` yid '' A West Ham supporter was banned Sunday for his Nazi salute at the same fixture .