LEEDS have slammed the “unacceptable” homophobic chants by supporters towards Crystal Palace’s Conor Gallagher on Tuesday.
Gallagher was subjected to taunts of ‘Chelsea rent boy’ by a group of fans during Leeds’ 1-0 win – their only home game during the week-long Rainbow Laces campaign, a movement focused on promoting equality and diversity in football.
The chants came after Gallagher, on a season-long loan from Stamford Bridge, was booked for a foul on Raphinha.
Whites skipper Liam Cooper was wearing a Rainbow Laces armband, with other emblems on show across Elland Road.
And the club said: “We are aware of a homophobic chant directed at a Crystal Palace player and we want to be very clear that this is unacceptable.
“We will continue to work closely with Marching Out Together and all of our supporter groups to ensure that we do everything within our power to eradicate homophobia and any other form of discrimination from our football club.”
Leeds’ LGBT+ group Marching Out Together also hit out at the supporters who insulted Gallagher.
They said: “The club have actively supported the Rainbow Laces campaign again this year with players discussing LGBT+ inclusion on podcasts and addressing schools.
“They have been photographed holding rainbow flags and they wore special pre-match shirts.
“The board and coaching staff all wore Marching Out Together badges and there was active promotion of Rainbow Laces on the club’s social media site, which went well beyond any requirements from the Premier League.
“The work we do with the club receives the support from the overwhelming majority of Leeds fans who welcome inclusion and support for the LGBT+ community.
“However, work still needs to be done and unacceptable chanting can still occasionally be heard. The chant is one example of that. It is unarguably homophobic and unacceptable at all times.
“It was certainly regrettable to hear.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
