LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Police are investigating allegations of homophobic chanting by some West Ham United supporters during their team’s 1-0 Premier League win at Chelsea on Saturday, the BBC has reported.
Official LGBT+ supporters’ groups of both clubs — Pride of Irons and Chelsea Pride — said on Twitter that they had witnessed continuous discriminatory chanting directed towards Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge and reported it to West Ham.
The BBC said on Monday that the Metropolitan Police were contacted on social media and are conducting enquiries. No arrests have been made yet.
West Ham issued a statement on Monday saying they do not condone any discriminatory behaviour by supporters.
“West Ham United in no way condones any behaviour that falls short of the highest standards which the club sets when it comes to equality,” a club spokesperson told Sky Sports.
“At London Stadium against Arsenal on Monday we will be celebrating and demonstrating the great work the club does to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for ALL supporters, including our LGBT+ fanbase, as part of our ongoing and unwavering support for the Rainbow Laces campaign.”
Football equality body Kick It Out tweeted here that it had told the FA the chants were homophobic and had to be treated as such.
Our statement on the homophobic chants aimed at Chelsea fans during their match against West Ham United on Saturday 👇 pic.twitter.com/74Nrz0xtUf
— Kick It Out (@kickitout) December 2, 2019
LGBT equality charity Stonewall said in a tweet here that tackling anti-LGBT slurs was vital to make more sport inclusive.
Tackling anti-LGBT slurs is vital to make sport more inclusive. Incidents like this are a reminder of why the #RainbowLaces campaign is so important.
— Stonewall (@stonewalluk) December 1, 2019
We need everyone who loves sport to play their part and make sport everyone's game!https://t.co/T5HVu4B4Za
Professional players across Britain will help promote equality and diversity during the next two rounds of games as part of the Rainbow Laces campaign here including using rainbow-coloured captain's armbands and laces. (Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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