Chelsea manager Graham Potter reacted to derogatory chants sung by Manchester United fans during their clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday night.
The points were shared on the night after a thrilling end to the match that saw an 87th-minute Chelsea penalty converted by Jorginho and an injury-time equalizer by Casemiro.
One unfortunate talking point that came out of the game was that visiting fans had allegedly sung homophobic chants.
While this is unacceptable in any situation, this falls on a weekend where the Premier League and clubs across England are actively celebrating inclusion and diversity in football by backing Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign.
???? Soccer is for everyone ????#RainbowLaces pic.twitter.com/fv9oHIW6Lt
– Premier League (@premierleague) October 22, 2022
The captain’s armbands for the next two weeks of matches will be rainbow-themed and the ball plinths, handshake boards and LED perimeter boards will display important messages. Premier League chief executive Richard Masters issued a statement ahead of the first round of the match, saying: “We have an important role to play in using the power and reach of football to encourage fans to show their support. to LGBTQ+ people.
Chelsea addresses derogatory chants
After the match, when asked about the matter, Graham Potter said: “Well, clearly we still have a lot of work to do.”
The club have since issued a statement condemning any offensive language used in their stadium. They stated: “We are proud to support Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign and today is proof that we must do more to make football a game for all.”
The full statement can be found below.
Chelsea FC issued the following statement after today’s game with Manchester United.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 22, 2022
