Chelsea will write to supporters warning them against singing a sectarian chant that was heard in the away end during their clash with Fulham. In Monday's 3-2 victory at Craven Cottage, some Chelsea fans sang the song 'Flute for 50 Pence'.
The opening verse includes the line: "F*** the Pope and the IRA." Chelsea officials quickly became aware of the chant and are set to act.
Club plans to contact ticket holders
According to the Mail, Stamford Bridge chiefs plan to trace those who bought tickets for the Premier League fixture and ask them via email to avoid repeating the chant. It is added that the FA are also aware of the situation.
The use of the chant appears to reflect Chelsea's long-standing relationship with Scottish giants Rangers. It has been heard sung in relation to Glasgow rivals Celtic, who have a deep connection to the Roman Catholic Church.
Possible FA punishment
In October 2025, the FA fined Lincoln £8,500 for twice chanting 'f*** the Pope and the IRA' towards former Wrexham and Republic of Ireland player James McClean. Chelsea could therefore face a similar punishment.
There was a charged atmosphere at Craven Cottage, with the Premier League unusually scheduling a West London derby for the opening weekend of the season. It took Chelsea less than a minute to take the lead, as Joao Pedro got Xabi Alonso's reign off to the perfect start.
Match details and reaction
Fulham equalised through Josh King before Morgan Rogers scored on his debut to restore Chelsea's advantage. Cole Palmer then gave the Blues breathing room shortly after half-time. Another debutant, Gonzalo Garcia, pulled a goal back for Fulham in the 54th minute. As the hosts pushed to draw level again, Chelsea held on to begin their season with a win.
There was another moment of animosity during the game when Enzo Fernandez was subbed on by Alonso. Fulham fans heavily jeered the Argentine, who had taunted England after beating them at the World Cup.
Alonso was pleased with how his side handled the encounter, saying post-match: "[It's important] to manage in difficult moments, not to lose this emotional control. We know the Premier League is fantastic because sometimes the games are out of your hands."
"You don't control them, so the players on the pitch need to know how to manage it - it's as important as the tactics being right. It's a process but today we went through good moments on that and we need to carry on that."
