Leeds United fans could be prosecuted for homophobic chanting at FA Cup semi as arrest total is revealed | OneFootball

The Metropolitan Police said there were 14 arrests in and around Wembley as Leeds United faced Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, and that 18 more will be reported for consideration of prosecution, including 16 Leeds fans over alleged homophobic chanting.

The match largely passed off without incident. Offences among those arrested included GBH, ABH, affray, assault on an emergency worker, common assault and tailgating.

Chelsea progressed courtesy of an Enzo Fernandez first-half goal. The official attendance was 82,542.

Leeds had warned supporters ahead of a 2024 meeting with Chelsea that the ‘rent boy’ chant had been criminalised by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The chant is considered a homophobic slur and hate crime. It became a prosecutable offence in January 2022, and in January 2023 the FA informed clubs it would pursue formal disciplinary action over its use.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk