Manchester United fans aimed a homophobic chant at Frank Lampard during their side's FA Cup clash against Everton.
Lampard took his Everton side to Old Trafford for a third-round tie against the Red Devils on Friday night. An early strike from Antony, Conor Coady's own-goal and Marcus Rashford's late penalty were enough to see the Red Devils progress to the fourth round of the competition.
But their win was marred during the second-half when the home crowd began directing the "Chelsea rent boy" chant towards Lampard. Mirror Football revealed a year ago that the chant would be classed as a homophobic hate crime by the Crown Prosecution Service going forward.
A section of United fans clearly ignored that on Friday though, with the chant being clearly heard as the game was screened live on ITV. Rainbow Devils, the LGBT+ supporters group for United, condemned their fellow fans and demanded the club take action.
"We strongly condemn the taunting of Frank Lampard with the illegal and homophobic chant from a section of our fans and call for the club to take action," a statement from the group read.
LGBT+ supporters group Pride in Football also demanded stronger action from authorities to stamp out the chant.
"'Sacked in the morning' is one thing directed at Lampard, the next one is unnecessary and a hate crime. The CPS and other governing bodies need to do more. Clearly, what is happening now isn’t good enough with ' Chelsea rent boys' chanted again this evening at Man Utd vs Everton," a tweet from the group read.
The latest homophobic chanting comes a matter of days after it was heard during Chelsea's draw at Nottingham Forest. The Football Association are investigating that incident, with a spokesperson telling Mirror Football that the organisation is "determined" to drive it 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, were left furious after the chant was heard at Forest. And they demanded the FA finally act to bring its rules in line with that tougher outlook.
"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," a statement from the group read.
"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."
