Manchester United have issued a statement urging supporters to refrain from discriminatory chanting at Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea or risk “serious consequences”.
Fans who direct the derogatory “Chelsea rent boy” chant towards visiting players or fans have been warned they could face sanctions ranging from ejection to stadium bans, or even criminal charges.
Oddly, the statement is accompanied by a video that opens with a rendition of the chant, a homophobic slur deemed a hate crime by the Football Association and the Crown Prosecution Service, before going into detail about its origins and impact.
Manchester United statement calls chant ‘offensive and inappropriate’
“We are aware of the use of the ‘rent boy’ chant that has been heard at fixtures involving Chelsea in recent years,” read the statement, released on Thursday evening.
“We want to be absolutely clear: this chant is offensive, inappropriate and has no place at our stadium or within our game. The Football Association and the Crown Prosecution Service have both confirmed that the chant is considered discriminatory and is classed as a hate crime.
“As such, supporters who engage in this behaviour risk serious consequences, including ejection from the stadium, banning orders, and potential criminal charges. Within the club’s Official Club Sanctioning Document, this behaviour is identified as a Level 4(c) Offence and carries a three-year suspension.”
Clubs fined for homophobic chanting
Since the FA outlawed express or implied references to sexual orientation in January 2023, several clubs have fallen foul of the rules.
Homophobic chanting by Tottenham Hotspur supporters during a match at Old Trafford in September 2024 prompted an independent regulatory commission to impose a £150,000 fine on the north London club, later reduced to £75,000 on appeal.
West Ham were fined £120,000 at the end of last season for homophobic chanting by their fans during a Premier League game at Chelsea in February.
With Alejandro Garnacho set to appear at Old Trafford on Sunday for the first time since his move to Chelsea last month, United called on supporters to ensure the club “remains a place where everyone feels safe, respected and valued”.
“We call on our supporters to uphold the values of our club by avoiding language and behaviour that causes harm or offence,” said the statement. “We encourage fans to challenge this chant and any other discriminatory behaviour, and instead channel passion into positive support for the team.”
