The Football Association (FA) has charged Tottenham Hotspur in relation to homophobic chanting during their Premier League game against Manchester United in September.
The Athletic reported from the game that the “Chelsea rent boy” chant — a homophobic slur aimed at the west London club’s current and former players and fans — was heard coming from the Spurs fans’ section at Old Trafford around the same time as Mason Mount’s introduction as a substitute.
Another chant, relating to striker Dominic Solanke and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, was also heard.
An FA statement confirming the charge said it’s alleged that Tottenham failed to prevent fans from “using words… with either an express or implied reference to sexual orientation”.
The two breaches of FA Rule E21 for misconduct in relation to crowd control are alleged to have taken place in the 49th and 76th minute of the match, which Tottenham won 3-0.
The north London club said they were aware of the “abhorrent homophobic chanting” in a statement following the game.
The statement added: “We will be working closely with the police and stewards to identify anyone instigating or joining in with the chanting — we shall take the strongest possible action in accordance with our sanctions and banning policy.”
In January 2023, the FA added homophobic chanting to its list of rule breaches and said it can pursue action against clubs whose supporters use them at matches.
In 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that it considered the term a homophobic slur and therefore a hate crime.
Spurs have until Wednesday, November 13, to respond to the charge.
(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
