LGBTQ-inclusive football team reports homophobic abuse

LGBTQ-inclusive football team reports homophobic abuse

The FA is looking into reports that LGBTQ-inclusive team Village Manchester FC have been subject to homophobic abuse.

Players have said they faced “appalling” verbal homophobic abuse from Chadderton Park First during a match in Oldham on 11 January, with Village Manchester chair James McNaught describing it as “outrageous” and Terry Jennings, Chadderton chair, saying “five idiots” had “tarnished the good name of our club”, according to reports.

This is not the first time the club has faced such issues – it said it suffered a dozen homophobic incidents last season and is now seeking a clampdown on this appalling behaviour.

The Chadderton players are said to have chanted the lyrics of YMCA at Village Manchester players in in the dressing rooms and that one player was told after being tackled: “get up you fairy”.

According to an FA spokesman Manchester Football Association is “aware of and investigating alleged discrimination” at the game.