Hull City hit With £30,000 FA Fine for Homophobic Chants
Last update: September 11, 2026
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Three fans banned, three arrested and a £30,000 bill. Hull City have learned the hard way that one offensive chant can cost a club dearly.
Hull City have been fined £30,000 by the Football Association after some of their supporters were heard using homophobic slurs during their 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Chelsea back in February, cbinews.TV reports.
It was an ugly moment at the MKM Stadium. The chant, a recognised homophobic slur, was heard loud enough for officials to intervene. The PA announcer repeatedly warned fans to stop, and messages flashed up on the big screens. It did not work.
Police stepped in, and three people were arrested on the night. Hull have now banned three supporters for a minimum of three years.
The FA charged the club with failing to ensure its supporters did not use offensive, abusive or insulting language relating to sexual orientation. Hull accepted the charge.
In a strong statement on Friday, the club said it condemns the behaviour in the strongest possible terms and stressed that discrimination of any kind is wholly unacceptable and will not be tolerated. They also warned that anyone caught using discriminatory language could face arrest and criminal charges.
Football has been fighting this particular chant for years. The Crown Prosecution Service classed it as a hate crime in 2022, and the FA has been cracking down ever since. It is not just banter. For LGBTQ+ fans in the stands, it makes football feel unsafe. For clubs, it now means fines, bans and reputational damage.
This is not the first time English football has seen action like this. Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Brighton fans have all been at the centre of similar cases in the past two seasons. Data from Kick It Out showed a rise in reports of homophobic abuse at matches last season, with more than 100 incidents reported in the professional game.
The human angle here is simple. Imagine being a young Hull fan at your first away game hearing that chant around you. Hull have over 19,000 season ticket holders and a proud community fanbase. The actions of a few have now stained the whole club.
Hull are urging supporters travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday not to repeat the chant.
The FA says education remains key, but tougher sanctions are coming for repeat offences. If you hear it, report it via the Kick It Out app or to a steward.
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