Arsenal have confirmed two supporters were ejected from the Emirates Stadium after homophobic abuse was reported during their game against Brighton on Saturday.
The Gunners confirmed that they are now investigating incidents where abuse was reported during the 2-1 defeat to Graham Potter's side on Saturday. Stewarding operations have also been 'stepped up' in the areas of the stadium where the reports were made, with the club promising to take "strongest action possible against perpetrators who can be identified".
A statement from the club reads : "We have been made aware of incidents of homophobic abuse at our home fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. Arsenal should be a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, and we want to be clear that any kind of discriminatory abuse is not welcome at our club.
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"We can confirm that two supporters were ejected from the stadium, and we stepped up stewarding operations in areas where abuse was reported. The incidents that were reported are now being investigated by the club, and we will take the strongest action possible against perpetrators who can be identified.
"We’d also like to remind supporters that homophobic abuse is a hate crime and punishable by the law. Please think before you chant. We’d like to thank those who came forward to report the incidents on Saturday. We can only address this kind of abuse with the help of our fans as allies."
The club also confirmed that all supporters can report discriminatory abuse in the stadium by texting FOUL to 67777, along with a brief description of the event, their row and their seat number. The club statement also went on re-emphasise their 'Arsenal is for everyone' message.
"Football has the power to unite people of all backgrounds, and we don’t want anyone to feel like it’s not for them," the statement read. "We are committed to using the power of our voice and reach to make it absolutely clear: Arsenal is for everyone."
That message has been relayed constantly in a video that is played prior to matches and during the half time interval at the Emirates Stadium where LGBT+ fans discuss the abuse they continue to suffer on matchdays both at football grounds and in pubs.
The Gunners have the largest LGBT+ supporter group in the Gay Gooners. Their co-chairman Carl Fearn praised the club's quick and clear response to the events during the Brighton game.
"The speed and direct nature of the statement is very pleasing," Fearn told the PA news agency. "Whilst we worked with the club yesterday on the statement, we wanted to make sure it came from the club and that we're not seen as the 'gay police' as it were, because that just opens us up for all sorts of abuse.
"We work efficiently and quietly with the club to get these things out there and the club were very good. We're all football fans together at the end of the day. Once that final whistle is blown - yes, we lost - but be a fellow football fan, we shouldn't hate each other."
