The Football Association has insisted it is "determined" to stamp homophobia out of football after Chelsea fans demanded they update their rulebook following abusive chanting.
Chelsea Pride urged the governing body to act after the 'rent boy' chant was heard during the Blues' draw with Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Last January, Mirror Football revealed that chant would be classed as a homophobic hate crime by the Crown Prosecution Service going forward.
Despite that stance, though, the FA is still yet to update its rulebook to bring itself in line with the CPS. Following the latest incident of the chant being directed towards Chelsea fans and players, the FA has been forced to defend its stance.
It has revealed that it is investigating the matter, with Forest also looking into the incident. A spokesperson insisted that the governing body is focused on driving the 'rent boy' chant out of the game.
"We strongly condemn the use of the term 'rent boy' and we are determined to drive it out of our game. We continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as the UK Football Policing Unit, in relation to the use of this term," an FA spokesperson told Mirror Football.
"Part of our work in this area has been to provide the relevant authorities with impact statements from LGBTQ+ supporters, detailing how chants of this nature affects their experience and feeling of inclusion at football matches, so that a clearer stance and understanding on the chant can be established.
"We stand firmly against all forms of discrimination and we are striving to ensure our game is a safe environment for all, which truly embraces diversity and challenges hateful conduct both on and off the pitch."
Chelsea Pride, the LGBT+ supporters group for the Blues, was left furious after the chant was heard once again, a year after the CPS revealed its stance. It demanded the FA finally acts to bring its rules in line with that outlook.
"Day 1 of 2023 and we start with challenging homophobic chanting within a game. Yesterday at the City Ground, a homophobic chant was sung by a portion of Forest fans," a statement from the group read.
"This chant is seen as being discriminatory by the CPS and has the potential of being prosecuted as a hate crime. But still it's being sung with the stands at football.
"We challenge the football authorities to change their stance and start to hold clubs and football fans more accountable for discriminatory language that's being used within stadiums towards to LGBTQ+ community.
"If the CPS are now taking this seriously, then the FA needs to change its own rule books. Discrimination has no place in football. We have to educate and change this behaviour. It's not harmless banter.
"Just because it doesn't offend you, does not mean it's not offending others. Our friends, our allies want to see a change. Change will only happen if we all work together. Football should be a game for everyone, help us to create that change. Say no to hate."
