This international campaign, which was also marked at Chelsea’s Women’s home game last weekend, tackles homophobia and prejudice against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+) people in football. The aim of Football v Homophobia is to make football safe and welcoming for everyone.

Results of a 2024 survey (carried out by Out and Out Football) showed that 74 per cent of respondents - all LGBTQ+ - said they had experienced or heard anti-LGBTQ+ abuse when watching football. Less than a quarter of those people said they had reported the incidents, suggesting a lack of confidence or awareness of available reporting channels.

At Chelsea, we have our own particular story to tell regarding homophobic abuse at matches. Tracy Brown, founder and long-time chair of the club’s official LGBTQ+ supporter group Chelsea Pride, who also serves on the Fan Advisory Board, is able to take up the tale. She is pictured above with fellow Chelsea Pride member Kerrie Evans.

In January 2022, after years of campaigning, the infamous ‘Chelsea rent boy’ chant was finally outlawed by the Crown Prosecution Service. Twelve months later, the FA added it to their list of banned chants.

New Year’s Day, 1987, and a 3-1 win against west London rivals, QPR, was Brown’s first experience of Stamford Bridge.

‘I was just super excited,’ she recalls, ‘as any eight-year-old would be.’

However, in the following years, it was the homophobia from the stands that stuck with Brown as much as any on-pitch memories.

‘It was just horrid,’ she bluntly puts it. ‘Not just Chelsea rent boy, all sorts of other, horrible, stuff.’

The Chelsea rent boy term originates from the 1960s, where in London, Earl’s Court was known for its gay scene and high concentration of male sex workers. From the 1980s onwards, it slowly became an ever-present at Chelsea fixtures; a derogatory slur used against, players, staff and fans alike.

For decades after this, the term was commonplace in football and those who wanted to see the game lose its ugly, homophobic element, faced an uphill battle.

But, with the founding of Chelsea Pride in 2016, Brown could feel the tide turning. Chelsea Pride created, in her own words, a ‘safe space for LGBTQ+ fans at Chelsea matches events and club events’.

In 2021, the club, in partnership with Chelsea Foundation, also launched our first organisation-wide, anti-hate campaign. Titled No To Hate, it sought to stamp out discriminatory behaviour in football.

Behind the scenes, Brown was tirelessly lobbying the FA, pushing for greater accountability of homophobia in football grounds.

However, it was the realisation that she would need to convince the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to act that her work truly began to gather momentum. Alongside Chris Paouros, co-chair of Proud Lilywhites, Tottenham’s LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, they put aside their sporting differences and spoke to LGBTQ+ groups league-wide, gathering victim statements.

After years of relentless campaigning, the CPS finally bowed and Brown, Paouros, LGBTQ+ groups and allies nationwide had their justice: the term ‘rent boy’ was deemed homophobic, and its use illegal. The FA soon followed suit, and, not long after, supporters and their clubs could also be held responsible for its singing.

It was a watershed moment for Brown, but that has not stopped her campaigning. She has since provided countless witness statements in court, leading to several convictions.

For this, in 2023, she was awarded a formal commendation from the chief crown prosecutor for her work tackling hate crime in sport. A year later, it was a Football v Homophobia Hero award. Presented at the National Football Museum in Manchester, it’s a moment that she describes will stay with her ‘forever’.

‘That night was a reminder that relentless work does matter. That standing up, speaking out and refusing to accept hate can lead to change. However, we are not finished. We will continue until we make sure football is truly safe for everyone.’

This type of discrimination doesn’t just impact LGBTQ+ people. Using homophobic or transphobic language, or putting someone down because of their gender just because you don’t like the way they play football, manage a team, make a refereeing decision or because of whom they support is wrong. It is against the Laws of the Game and can be a criminal offence, but most importantly, it can make football an intimidating and unpleasant place for fellow fans, players and match officials.

An increase in homophobic language and abuse on social media, in the stands and at grassroots in recent years means that we all need to make sure that we stand up to homophobia in the game. Fans can make a real difference to the culture of football.

If you witness any behaviour during a game like anti-gay chanting and hateful or prejudiced language, as well as any other discriminatory or anti-social behaviour, speak to a nearby steward or report it directly to the club via the page which can be accessed by clicking here

Remember, doing nothing only allows discrimination to get worse.

• Click to find out more about the Football v Homophobia campaign and how you can get involved