Graham Potter, Erik Ten Hag and the FA condemn homophobic chanting from Man Utd fans at Chelsea in Saturday evening’s 1-1 draw.
Offensive songs were heard at points throughout the Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge with the Football Association saying it would crack down on discriminatory behaviour.
It came on a weekend with United using the trip to demonstrate their support for the LGBTQ+ community with Erik ten Hag wearing a badge promoting Stonewall’s ‘Rainbow Laces’ campaign to celebrate inclusion in football, while club captain Bruno Fernandes wore a rainbow armband during the match.
Manchester United also launched their own ‘One Love’ campaign to show their unity with LGBTQ+ groups – especially those affiliated with the club such as the Rainbow Devils.
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Chelsea boss Graham Potter said “it’s clear we’ve still got a lot of work to do” following reports of the chants coming from the away end at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues manager was responding to questions from journalists who had heard the chanting, when Premier League clubs were backing the Rainbow Laces campaign in support of LBGTQ+ inclusion.
United boss Ten Hag said “it does not belong in the stands” after being asked by reporters for his comment, while he also condemned abuse directed at Raphael Varane as the United defender left the field injured.
“I think it doesn’t belong in the stands but when I call the stands, I mention the stands, I mean the whole stadium. Because also when Rapha Varane came out, it was the same, the other side, the Chelsea fans. So we all don’t do it.”
A Manchester United spokesperson later said: “Homophobia, like all forms of discrimination, has no place in football. Manchester United is proud of our diverse fan base and the work we have done to reduce instances like we sadly heard at Stamford Bridge.
A statement on the Chelsea club website said: “Chelsea Football Club finds all forms of discriminatory behaviour totally unacceptable and we condemn the language used by some individuals today at Stamford Bridge.
“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.”
In January, the CPS deems the ‘Rent Boy’ chant used on Saturday as a homophobic slur and said that supporters singing the slur during matches were committing a hate crime.
Those found to have used the words could face prosecution.
In 2020, Chelsea alleged that a “large group” of United supporters made homophobic chants during that season’s Premier League meeting at Stamford Bridge.
The game itself saw Casemiro earn Man Utd a dramatic late point at Chelsea; the Blues were seconds away from victory after Jorginho converted late penalty; Graham Potter extended his side’s unbeaten start at Chelsea to eight games but they are now without a win in 10 against Man Utd.
Player ratings
Chelsea: Kepa (7), Azpilicueta (6), Chalobah (7), Thiago Silva (6), Cucurella (5), Loftus-Cheek (5), Jorginho (7), Chilwell (6), Mount (6), Sterling (5), Aubameyang (5).
Subs: Kovacic (7), Pulisic (5), Broja (6), Chukwuemeka (5).
Man Utd: De Gea (6), Dalot (6), Varane (6), Martinez (7), Shaw (7), Casemiro (7), Eriksen (6), Antony (5), Fernandes (6), Sancho (4), Rashford (4).
Subs: Lindelof (6), Fred (6), Elanga (5), McTominay (5).
Man of the Match: Casemiro.
This is what fans had to say as Potter, Ten Hag and the FA condemn homophobic chanting from Man Utd fans at Chelsea…
@dandormer: In no scenario are homophobic chants from your club’s supporters comparable to chants from opposition supporters towards a player exiting the match.
@HistoryMatters7: Lifetime bans might get the point across
@AllyLobster: And this is why we were so upset when those male players joked about coming out.
@ChelseaFinsF1: When will fans ever learn…
@Mountford_14: As if United fans could get any worse
@AndyT_______: Colour me shocked. No class this lot
@_ChelseaLB: Classic United fans
@JSworkaccount: Good. Ban anyone involved 👍🏻
@CFCKaz6: So he’s saying homophobic chants are on the same level as calling a player a wanker because he punched a flag?
@HazardHunky: Calling someone a wanker for time wasting is SO far from singing homophobic chants, but with role models like this making excuses for the bad parts of the fanbase nothing is ever going to change. Ten Hag has made a mockery of the entire rainbow laces weekend.
@EmmaCFCx: It’s a shame this is still going on. Football shouldn’t have barriers. It is for everyone. We need to make football a place that is uncomfortable for people who share awful discriminatory views on people.
@Ad_Ryan8: Homophobic chants are the same as booing a player, got it 👍. Erik ten Hag is a great role model.
@Paula04858066: I was in East Lower near the rabble and was disgusted with the constant homophobic chanting, bad enough any day but on this day totally unacceptable. And aimed at the family section too. Shame on them.
@hanahcc: United fans making homophobic chants and Chelsea fans booing a player coming off the field is not the same actually
@DanBedford539: Thank you for this statement guys. Homophobic language is unacceptable
Everytime they come here they do the same thing. The messages condemning them are not enough. It’s time for action through fines or smaller allocations is necessary to make it sure that no forms of abuse are welcome at the bridge or football. pic.twitter.com/uWgekC0k9J
— Jamie (@JamieCFC98) October 22, 2022
Hearing the @ManUtd fans homophonic chanting yesterday on a day their club was supporting the NO TO HATE campaign just reminding myself that sadly these slogan campaigns are shunned by a large vocal minority. We need to be taking tough action beyond the slogans #CodeBlue 🔵 pic.twitter.com/GaWg3vDWoM
— Paul Canoville ⭐️⭐️ (@Kingcanners) October 23, 2022
2/2 It was however a disappointment to still hear some United fans singing the homophobic song aimed at Chelsea and their fans. We need to respect all football fans and we will continue to work to eradicate all forms of discrimination from our beautiful game.
— Rainbow Devils (@RainbowDevils) October 22, 2022
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