Leeds United have issued a stern warning to supporters found engaging in homophobic chanting, stating they will face “a lengthy stadium ban”. The warning comes after additional cameras were deployed for Sunday’s Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion at Elland Road.
The fixture saw Leeds secure their Premier League survival with a 1-0 victory. In a statement, the Yorkshire club said they were “aware of homophobic chanting which took place” during the match and reiterated that “any form of discriminatory chanting has no place in football”.
The club also noted they were “aware of disappointing Jimmy Savile chants”, but emphasised that “this does not make other forms of discriminatory and homophobic chanting acceptable”. The statement confirmed that anyone identified taking part in homophobic chanting will face a lengthy stadium ban.
The warning follows a recent case involving Real Madrid, who lost an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a Uefa fine after fans directed homophobic chants at Pep Guardiola. The court ruled the chant was “of a severe discriminatory nature … to be considered as far more serious and damaging than acceptable satire and banter”.
Uefa lawyers said that homophobia has “cast a long and deeply troubling shadow” over football, adding that “for decades, the sport has been marred by a culture of machismo, exclusion, prejudice, and hostility towards individuals based on their sexual orientation”.
