Football fans were condemned for using homophobic language at an FA Trophy match when Dagenham and Redbridge played Southend United.
LGBTQ group Proud Shrimpers tweeted: “We are hugely disappointed to learn of homophobic language being used by both sets of fans last weekend. Homophobia has no place in football, and we hope both @SUFCRootsHall & @Dag_RedFC act accordingly.”
One respondent said this is the third match at which homophobic slurs were heard this week, adding: “So, so disappointing.”
Another fan also said abusive language at matches is a regular occurrence.
He wrote: “Disappointing to hear reports of homophobic chanting every single game week. Hope it’s due to an increase of awareness and reporting rather than an increase in incidents."
Dagenham and Redbridge FC thanked the Proud Shrimpers for raising the issue and said it will be discussed with the team’s safety officer.
They said it will also be addressed at Daggers’ Celebrate Diversity Day on January 29 when the team mark “13 years of supporting diversity in the community”.
Southend United also said they are “are extremely disappointed to hear about homophobic language used by a minority of supporters” and promised to investigate the situation.
“One club, one community,” they added.
But some fans said use of the word “minority” undermined the situation.
One said: “Don't justify it by pointing out it's only a few, a few is too many. Just report and ban them.” Another added: “One is too many.”
Southend Brasil, a Brazil-based fan group dedicated to the team retweeted the Proud Shrimpers post with the message: “Southend is everyone’s.”
Some questioned “why are we still reading tweets like this” while others slammed homophobic fans by calling them “degenerates”.
The Justin Fashanu Foundation, a charity dedicated to fighting prejudice in sport, wrote: “Exclusion and discrimination does not make for a #beautifulgame.
“We have to keep calling it out, offering support to players and educating all that diversity is not a threat, it is a strength.”
The match, which ended 2-0 to the Daggers, took place at the Chigwell Construction Station on Saturday January 15.
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