Manchester United has issued a warning to fans, stating that those who chant "Chelsea rent boy" face the risk of arrest.
This warning also includes a video that repeatedly plays this "hate crime" chant.
Manchester United released the warning to fans ahead of this weekend's home match against Chelsea. It is expected that Alejandro Garnacho will return to the club after completing his transfer to Chelsea this weekend and face hostility from the crowd.
Fans have been informed that the specific term "rent boy" – which refers to a male sex worker – has been classified as a hate crime by the Football Association (FA) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Individuals who chant the slogan may be ejected from the stadium, issued with banning orders, or face criminal charges.
"We want to make it clear: this chant is offensive, inappropriate, and has no place in our stadium or at our matches," Manchester United wrote in a statement.
The club also produced a four-minute video on its official website, which outlines the history of the term and opens with multiple repetitions of the offensive chant.
The video warns that the content "may be distressing to some viewers" and repeats the chant the club aims to eliminate.
Previously, other clubs have also addressed the issue of the "rent boy" chant when facing Chelsea. In 2023, a Fulham fan was banned from attending matches for three years after admitting to a public order offence linked to anti-gay chants.
Manchester United also referred to the "Rainbow Devils" – a fan group advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion – to explain why the term is offensive.
"In the late 1960s and 1970s, the Chelsea area of West London was a hub for the LGBTQ+ community. There were several pubs there where queer people could be themselves freely amid a homophobic culture.
Due to the active LGBTQ+ community in the borough, it became known as a place where 'rent boys' sought out men for sexual services – particularly near Earl's Court, just a few minutes' walk from Chelsea Football Club's Stamford Bridge stadium.
Therefore, the 'Chelsea rent boy' chant is actually a homophobic insult, implying that Chelsea's male players and fans provide sexual services to other men."
