The Metropolitan Police have confirmed an arrest following an incident of alleged homophobic abuse directed at Manchester United midfielder Mason Mount during last weekend's Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Arrest and Police Investigation
On Saturday, 8 November, a 19-year-old man was forcibly removed from the stadium after a member of staff reported hearing him make an offensive comment. The police arrested the man that day on suspicion of intentionally causing harassment, alarm, or distress. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries. In their statement, the force noted that no specific victims had been formally identified during the initial investigation.
Tottenham's Strong Stance
Tottenham Hotspur released a separate statement condemning the alleged offence and pledging their full support for the police investigation. The club threatened the 'strongest possible action' against any supporter found to have used discriminatory language, which would include a ban and mandatory participation in a fan education programme. The statement emphasised the club's 'zero tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination.'
A Recurring Problem
This is not an isolated incident for the club or for Mason Mount. Tottenham were forced to issue a similar statement at the start of last season when their away supporters targeted Mount and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with homophobic chants during a match at Old Trafford. The club was subsequently hit with a £75,000 fine after admitting to the breaches. Mount, a former Chelsea player, has been repeatedly subjected to such vile abuse throughout his career.
The issue extends beyond this single event. Earlier this month, a Manchester United fan was given a three-year banning order for making a homophobic comment about Chelsea on social media, using the slur 'rent boys,' which the Crown Prosecution Service classifies as a hate crime.
