The Football Association have said they are 'determined' to drive out the use of the term 'rent boy' from football, following chants from Nottingham Forest supporters during their draw with Chelsea. Forest announced following the game that they would be investigating the actions but Chelsea's official LGBTQ+ and friends supporters group called upon the FA to do more following the incident.
The phrase was officially defined and recognised as a homophobic slur by the Crown Prosecution Service in January 2022. Blues fans have already been subject to the sentiment in their Premier League match against Manchester United this season.
The FA will investigate the matter following yesterday's match but has yet to update it's own rulebook following the ruling of the CPS last year.
READ MORE: Why Thiago Silva was left furious as new Chelsea signing watches Nottingham Forest draw
An FA spokesperson told Mirror Football: "We strongly condemn the use of the term 'rent boy' and we are determined to drive it out of our game. We continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as the UK Football Policing Unit, in relation to the use of this term.
"Part of our work in this area has been to provide the relevant authorities with impact statements from LGBTQ+ supporters, detailing how chants of this nature affects their experience and feeling of inclusion at football matches, so that a clearer stance and understanding on the chant can be established.
"We stand firmly against all forms of discrimination and we are striving to ensure our game is a safe environment for all, which truly embraces diversity and challenges hateful conduct both on and off the pitch."
Chelsea Pride hopes that authorities will make both club and football fans more accountable for using such terms.
They said on Monday morning: "Day 1 of 2023 and we start with challenging homophobic chanting within a game. Yesterday at The City Ground a homophobic chant was sung by a proportion of Forest fans. This chant is seen as being discriminatory by the CPS and has the potential of being prosecuted as a Hate Crime. But still it's being sung with the stands at football.
"We challenge the football authorities to now change their stance and start to hold clubs and football fans more accountable for discriminatory language that's being used within stadiums forward the LGBTQ+ community. If the CPS are now taking this seriously then The FA needs to change it own rule books. Discrimination has no place in football. We have to educate and change this behaviour. It's not harmless banter. Just because it doesn't offend you, does not mean it's not offending others. Our friends, our allies want to see a change. We all do.
"We would also love to see football commentators call this behaviour out on TV. You are quick to apologise for any bad language being heard but why not challenge it? The chant sang yesterday was clear as day on TV. Change will only happen if we all work together. Football should be a game for everyone. Help us create that change. Say no to hate."
READ NEXT:
Four things learned from Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest as Potter left to ponder Havertz claim
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea highlights: Serge Aurier goal cancels out Raheem Sterling strike
Chelsea player ratings vs Nottingham Forest as Silva shines, Havertz dire, Koulibaly struggles
Every word Graham Potter said on Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest, away form concern, January window
First Chelsea January transfer signing spotted in crowd for Nottingham Forest clash
