As we prepare to welcome Chelsea FC to Old Trafford this weekend, Manchester United would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to ensuring that Old Trafford remains a place where everyone feels safe, respected and valued.
“rent boy”chant that has been heard at fixtures involving Chelsea in recent years. We want to be absolutely clear: this chant is offensive, inappropriate and has no place at our stadium or within our game.
The Football Association and the Crown Prosecution Service have both confirmed that the chant is considered discriminatory and is classed as a hate crime.
Manchester United is proud to be a diverse and inclusive club, with a global fanbase that reflects communities from every background, faith and orientation. Our All Red All Equal campaign and our partnership with fan groups, including Rainbow Devils, underline our belief that football should be a welcoming environment for everyone.
We call on our supporters to uphold the values of our club by avoiding language and behaviour that causes harm or offence. We encourage fans to challenge this chant and any other discriminatory behaviour, and instead channel passion into positive support for the team.
We remind fans that they can report abuse or discrimination by texting HELP to 66777 while inside the stadium, or by reporting via Kick It Out.
FURTHER READING
We invite supporters to read a statement from Rainbow Devils in response to the 'Chelsea Rent Boy' chant.