Wrexham has issued a warning to fans, stating that anyone using anti-gay slurs may face “serious consequences,” including the possibility of criminal charges.
This warning comes ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round match against Chelsea at the SToK Cae Ras, highlighting that the club itself could also face significant penalties in response to any discriminatory actions.
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The club released a statement saying: “We are aware that the highly offensive and inappropriate chant of ‘rent boys’ has been prevalent at Chelsea matches in recent years, and we would like to reiterate our commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding discriminatory behaviour.”
“Anyone participating in this behaviour will face serious repercussions—this could include ejection from the stadium, a banning order, and North Wales Police have confirmed that they will pursue arrests and criminal charges. According to the Club’s Exclusion Matrix, such actions would be classified as a level five offence, leading to an automatic three-year ban.”
“Additionally, the football club may encounter severe sanctions if its fans engage in such behaviour.”
Hull City has confirmed that multiple arrests were made for discriminatory chanting following their 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round loss to Chelsea.
In January 2022, the Crown Prosecution Service officially classified the chant as an anti-gay slur, thereby categorizing it as a hate crime. Those caught using the term may face prosecution under hate crime legislation.
PA contributed to this report.