Christian Wakeford has called for a “zero-tolerance policy” towards antisemitism in football after warning that players as young as seven have been targets of abuse.

Speaking at a Westminster Hall debate on antisemitism and other forms racism in football, the Bury South MP told colleagues that antisemitism remains a “common feature of the sport".

While he acknowledged there has been an increased commitment among clubs to stamping out prejudice and discrimination, Mr Wakeford told colleagues it has had little traction.

He said: “There is a growing trend of Jews attending games hoping to see their team defend with vigour, but instead finding themselves defending their children from racist vitriol.

“Everyone knows that antisemitism has haunted the stands of British football for far too long.

“Antisemitism seems to be a common feature of the sport.

“While some clubs have shown an increasing commitment to stamping out prejudice and discrimination in their clubs through the adoption of the IHRA definition, as well as Chelsea’s “Say No to Antisemitism” campaign, it seems to have had little traction as of yet.”

The Labour MP went on to say that examples of antisemitism in football are “everywhere” and that rival fans have seen little consequence for using pejorative language against Jewish supporters at matches.

He added: “Even at grassroot and junior football, I have heard local reports from Maccabi of their Jewish players—some only seven years of age—being hissed at by players on the opposite side, replicating the noise of the gas chambers.

“I am sure that we can all agree that is truly shameful, shocking and abhorrent.”

The MP went on to call for tougher sanctions against fans who subject players to any kind racism.

He said: “We need to do much more to ensure that British football players can play the beautiful game without being subject to unacceptable abuse.

“We need tougher sanctions against offenders, action by social media companies, better education about the plight of Jews and all other races who find themselves subject to racist attacks, and a zero-tolerance policy that does not allow for repeat offenders, as well as—perhaps—policies that punish offenders retrospectively.

Leeds North West MP Alex Sobel, a member of inter-parliamentary taskforce to combat online antisemitism, noted that online racism must be stamped out “so that it does not appeal in the grounds.”

Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, called idea of people making hissing noises at seven-year-old Jewish footballers “revolting and “profoundly disturbing".