Liverpool condemn fans over homophobic chanting AGAIN during their clash with Chelsea

Liverpool have condemned even more homophobic chanting at Chelsea fans and players by ‘a small section’ of its own supporters during the club’s 1-1 draw with the London side at Anfield. 

Earlier this month, the Merseyside club came out to denounce chants of ‘Chelsea rent boy’ by the Reds supporters towards Norwich midfielder Billy Gilmour – who is on loan from the west London club – during a match on August 14. 

Paul Amman, a Liverpool supporter who founded the Kop Outs group that gives a voice to LGBT+ fans, expressed his disgust at hearing the chants directed at Gilmour and held an interview with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, who also condemned the chants.

But the exact same chant could be heard during Liverpool’s match with Chelsea on Saturday, with the Reds forced to come out with another statement to criticise these actions. 

The statement read: ‘Liverpool FC is disappointed by reports that a small section of our supporters were heard singing offensive songs during Saturday’s fixture with Chelsea at Anfield. 

‘The club strongly condemns these actions and will be investigating all reported allegations of abusive and/or discriminatory behaviour with the relevant authorities to identify perpetrators. 

‘LFC is committed to tackling abusive and discriminatory behaviour, which has no place in football or society. 

‘As part of its Red Together campaign, which encompasses all the club’s work on equality, diversity and inclusion, LFC strives to be the forefront of the fight against all forms of discrimination both online and in-stadium to create an inclusive environment for all. 

‘The club would like to remind its fans of its code of conduct, which clearly outlines what it expects from all supporters visiting Anfield.’

Liverpool branded the initial chanting at Gilmour earlier this month as ‘offensive and inappropriate’, with the club having to make a similar statement in April 2019 during another match with Chelsea.

Reds manager Klopp, however, made a more brutal assessment of the chanting earlier this month, describing the fans who sang those songs as ‘idiots’.

‘It’s from no perspective the nicest song in the world – so it is not necessary,’ said Klopp after the Norwich game. ‘It obviously makes people uncomfortable in our own fan group. For our supporters’ group and for me, that means: ”Done, let’s go for another one”. 

‘I really think it’s an easy decision – and should be an easy decision. I can imagine now that people out there think, ”Come on, it’s only winding them up” and stuff like this. But that’s the problem: most of the time we don’t understand.

‘From a player or coach’s perspective, I can say these songs don’t help us as well. It’s definitely a waste of time because we don’t listen. I hear in the stadium when they start singing about Bobby Firmino, Mo Salah, You’ll Never Walk Alone obviously.

‘That gives you goosebumps – that gives you a push. The other songs are a complete waste of time. If you think what you sing, you are an idiot.

‘If you don’t think about what you sang in that situation, it’s a waste of time. Forget it and go for another song.’