Tottenham Hotspur Charged by FA Over Homophobic Chanting

Tottenham Hotspur has received a charge from the Football Association (FA) for alleged homophobic chanting by their fans during a 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 29. Fans reportedly chanted in the 49th and 79th minutes of the Premier League match. After the game, Spurs condemned the “abhorrent homophobic chanting,” calling it “simply unacceptable” and vowing to take “the strongest possible action.”

The club’s statement reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating such behavior. The FA charged Tottenham with two breaches of Rule E21 which governs the conduct of supporters. The charges state that the club failed to ensure fans “conduct themselves in an orderly fashion” and allowed “improper, offensive, abusive, indecent or insulting” behavior, especially behavior referencing sexual orientation.

The rule which addresses misconduct in relation to crowd control, holds clubs accountable for their supporters’ actions during matches. The FA’s statement highlighted Tottenham’s failure to manage their fans leading to the offensive chanting which violated the league’s standards. Tottenham now has until next Wednesday to respond to the FA’s charge.

The club has already vowed to investigate the incident and take action against any individuals involved in discriminatory behavior. This charge is part of a broader initiative to tackle and prevent discriminatory conduct in football, both on and off the field. Tottenham Hotspur are expected to continue their efforts to foster an inclusive environment and address any forms of abuse while working closely with the FA to resolve the issue.