The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it is looking into alleged homophobic chanting during Nottingham Forest's Premier League match against Chelsea on Sunday.
The New Year's Day match ended 1-1 after Serge Aurier cancelled out Raheem Sterling's opener.. A statement was released from Forest at full-time which said they were investigating chants directed at Chelsea fans.
Chelsea's official LGBTQ+ supporters ground, Chelsea Pride, tweeted during the match to "totally condemn" the 'Chelsea rent boy' chants at the City Ground. The Crown Prosecution Service recognises 'rent boy' as a homophobic slur and insisted that using that term "can and will be prosecuted."
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It was confirmed on Tuesday that the CPS was in contact with the police over the incident at the match. A post from the Crown Prosecution Service official Twitter account read: "A disappointing start to the year. We remind everyone in football that homophobic chants can be, and have been, prosecuted as a hate crime. We’re speaking to our police contacts about this."
Nottinghamshrie Police also confirmed it is "currently be looking at a number of lines of enquiry." A post from the force's official account read: "Currently looking at a number of lines of enquiry. Disappointing that, despite this being a minority of fans - others have now tried to justify the chants somehow which in reality is as bad as those who engaged in the behaviour originally."
Forest's LGBTQ+ Trickies group said it was "embarrassed and ashamed" by the abuse and apologised on behalf of those responsible.
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