Hull City Fined £30,000 for Homophobic Chanting

Hull City will travel to Stamford Bridge this weekend under more than the usual scrutiny. The club has been fined £30,000 after homophobic chanting marred their 4-0 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea in February, and it has moved to clamp down hard before the sides meet again in the Premier League on Saturday.

The FA confirmed on Friday that Hull had accepted a charge of failing to control their supporters, after some fans repeatedly used a chant recognised as a homophobic slur during the tie at the MKM Stadium. Announcements over the PA system urged spectators to stop. Messages on the big screens backed them up. The chanting carried on.

Three supporters have since been banned by Hull for “a minimum of three years” for their involvement. Police arrested three people at the match on suspicion of engaging in homophobic chanting.

One fan group described the scenes that night as “a stain on our game”, and the FA’s charge reflected that anger.

The governing body said Hull had failed “to ensure its spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters) do not use words or behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, indecent or insulting way with a reference – whether express or implied – to sexual orientation”.

Hull did not contest the case. The club accepted the charge and the £30,000 fine, and responded with a strongly worded statement that leaves little room for ambiguity.

“Hull City condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the offensive and inappropriate language used by the supporters responsible,” the club said, stressing that “the chant in question is recognised as a homophobic slur and its use may constitute a hate crime”.

The message to their own fanbase is blunt. Use that chant again, and you risk arrest and criminal charges.

With another meeting against Chelsea looming, this time at Stamford Bridge, Hull have gone public with a reminder of what is at stake off the pitch as well as on it.

“Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge, the club reminds all supporters that discrimination of any kind is wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the statement added.

The football will take care of itself. The real test now is whether the stands can show they have learned from a night the club is determined not to relive.