Chelsea have issued a statement after reports of homophobic chanting during their Premier League match against Manchester United.
The teams shared the spoils at Stamford Bridge, with Jorginho opening the scoring and Casemiro levelling things up in stoppage time. However, events were overshadowed by unsavoury chants from the stands, prompting an official response from the London club.
The match was played against the backdrop of the Premier League supporting Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign, with both captains wearing rainbow armbands to show their support for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. And managers of the two clubs also responded after the match when quizzed on the matter.
" Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally unacceptable and we condemn the language used by some individuals today at Stamford Bridge," a statement from the Blues read. "We are proud to be supporting Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign and today acts as proof that we must do more to make football a game for everyone.
"This year we are educating, celebrating, communicating and motivating allyship and action for our players, employees, fans and society," the club's statement continued. Chelsea manager Graham Potter also spoke out, saying "It's clear we've still got a lot of work to do."
It is not the first time homophobic chants have been heard during games involving Chelsea. Back in January, the club welcomed a CPS verdict which found that the term "rent boy", used in some such chants, is a homophobic slur and chants using the term would be considered as a hate crime.
United boss Erik ten Hag was asked about the chants after the game, and condemned them. However, he also questioned some comments directed towards visiting defender Raphael Varane by fans in the home end.
"I think it doesn't belong in the stands but when I call the stands, I mention the stands, I mean the whole stadium," the Dutchman said, per the MEN. "Because also when Rapha Varane came out, it was the same, the other side, the Chelsea fans. So we all don't do it."
Director of Public Prosecutions for England and Wales, Max Hill KC, spoke to Mirror Sport about the chants back in January. This was not the first time they have been heard at a Premier League ground, with West Ham condemning alleged homophobic chanting by their fans in 2019.
“Hate crime has no place within society let alone sport,” Mr Hill said. “Recently we have seen an increase of reports in racist and homophobic abuse at football matches and this is a disease we are determined to play our part in cutting out."
The DPP made further comments about the seriousness with which the matter was being approached “Some may argue it is harmless banter but it means people who are being discriminated against feel less welcome to enjoy a match and support their team in person,” he added.
“Along with racist slurs we have reconfirmed that homophobic chants are unacceptable and could be subject to prosecution if there is sufficient evidence after a police investigation. As a mark of how seriously we take this offending we will always ask for harsher sentences as it amounts to a hate crime.
