US Fulham fan sues after his Come On You Whites-themed number plate is branded racist
American university professor Jonathan Kotler, 73, claims the Department of Motor Vehicles has violated his constitutional right to freedom of speech.
AN American Fulham fan is taking legal action after he was banned from having the phrase "come on you whites" on his number plate because it was deemed racist.
University professor Jonathan Kotler, 73, who lives in California, wanted to have the letters COYW on the front of his car but had explain his reasoning to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
But despite Jonathan explaining the abbreviation was a football slogan relating to the West London club, whose strip is a white top with black shorts, the DMV refused his application.
They said the phrase could be considered hostile, insulting or racially degrading, according to the federal legal case.
Officials at the DMV thought the slogan could "have racial overtones" and carry "connotations offensive to good taste and decency," the court filings said.
The footy-mad professor, whose current license plate FFC SW6 is the club's initials and postcode, says he is “shocked” at the ruling branding the DMV “either extra thick or very PC".
He has now launched a legal case against the California Department of Motor Vehicles claiming they have violated his constitutional right to freedom of speech.
It's just a shirt colour. The people at the DMV are either extra thick or very PC
Fulham fan Jonathan
Jonathan told the : “It's just a shirt colour. The people at the DMV are either extra thick or very PC."
The 73-year-old, who was born in New Jersey, fell in love with Fulham after watching a match "by happenchance" during a holiday to London.
Jonathan, teaches media law at the University of Southern California, was asked to provide reasons behind the application last year.
He said: “I sent them tons of material. Press releases, stories from the British media, letters from the chairman who uses 'come on you whites'.
"I pointed out that many clubs in Britain are known by their colour - the blues, the clarets. Nobody thought the Liverpool reds were communists."
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He continued: "Even when I did it, it was the furthest thing from my mind that anyone would object to it. I was shocked, absolutely. This is crazy.”
Jonathan also said out that Fulham’s Pakistani-born owner Shahid Khan "uses the phrase all the time".
The American, who previously supported Manchester United, flies to the UK to watch Fulham at Craven Cottage around eight to 10 times per season.
Fulham has shown their support for their loyal fan's case by tweeting: "#JusticeForJonathan #COYW."
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