Ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea at Elland Road, Leeds United would like to remind supporters we have a zero-tolerance policy towards the use of any homophobic or discriminatory language, chanting, abuse or gestures and condemn this behaviour.
Elland Road is once again sold out and as always we appreciate your amazing support.
However, ahead of the match, it is important that all supporters understand that the ‘rent boy’ chant is a homophobic slur and hate crime. It was made a prosecutable offence by the Crown Prosecution Service in January 2022, the main public agency for prosecuting crimes in England and Wales.
Following the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service making it a prosecutable offence for anyone to sing or use the words, the FA communicated to all its clubs its intention to pursue formal disciplinary action relating to the chant in January 2023.
The FA said: “The Football Association now considers this specific chant to amount to a breach of FA Rules and reserve the right to pursue formal disciplinary action against any club whose supporters engage in such behaviour going forward.
“Clubs at all levels of English football have a responsibility to ensure their spectators conduct themselves in an orderly fashion when attending matches and we thank you for your assistance in relation to this matter.”
Following an incident of discrimination in March 2023, in our Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion at Elland Road, the club was fined £150,000 and provided with an FA Action Plan to help improve supporter behaviour moving forwards and prevent any recurrences.
Anyone identified in taking part in discrimination will face a lengthy stadium ban, please think about your actions and the consequences both individually and for the club.
If you hear it, report it. To report an incident on matchday, text LEEDS along with any relevant information including ticket details, your name and description of an incident to 60006. It is vital to do this immediately, please do not wait until after the game. You will then receive an automated response which means that your report has been logged and will then be looked into.
All Leeds, aren’t we?
