Premier League club Hull City fined €35,000 for homophobic chant

The English football association FA has imposed a fine of £30,000 (almost €35,000) on Hull City for homophobic chants during an FA Cup tie with Chelsea in February. Three supporters sang the ‘rent boy’ chant, after which the stadium announcer intervened and later arrests followed.

Fine and club reaction

Hull City has accepted the £30,000 fine and in an official statement strongly condemned the homophobic expressions. The club wrote that the ‘rent boy’ chant is an offensive and inappropriate expression that can be classified under the law as a hate crime. In addition, Hull City emphasized its zero‑tolerance policy and its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

‘Rent boy’ is an English informal term for a young male prostitute who usually offers his services to other men. The club stated that this chant constitutes a homophobic insult and that such behaviour is not tolerated.

Sanctions and upcoming match

The stadium announcer halted the chant in the first half, reminded the crowd of the cameras present and later announced that arrests had been made. Three supporters were identified, banned from the stadium for at least three years and can be prosecuted criminally. Hull City reminds its fans that any form of discrimination is unacceptable, now that they play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

For the away match the club has made a call to all supporters to show respectful behaviour and continue cooperation with the authorities. The message underscores that the club not only reacts to incidents, but wants to proactively contribute to a safe and welcoming match day for everyone.

The contrast between the rule breach by a small group of supporters and the broad, inclusive stance of Hull City shows how clubs can act against hate without accusing the overall fan base. The upcoming match will serve as a test whether the club's call is followed.