Football club fined £700 for homophobic chants

The FA said rules were breached during a home game at the club in March

Boston United Football Club say they have been fined £700 over homophobic chanting during a home game in March.

The club's statement said they were charged and sanctioned after an offensive phrase was heard in the North Stand during a match against Woking on 8 March.

United chairman David Newton appealed for help from supporters "to stamp this out".

The FA said the incident had broken rule E21 – fans are not allowed to use words that are improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting with either express or implied reference to sexual orientation.

Boston United said they strongly condemned the chant and reiterated their zero tolerance policy on supporters who are found to have committed offences, at home or away.

The statement said the discriminatory abuse was offensive and potentially a criminal offence.

Newton said the club were now subject to an FA action plan to try and prevent such incidents in the future.

He said the club had also had to deal with an incident concerning racial abuse of a player by an away fan. "This is simply not acceptable", the chairman said.

Newton said the club had robust procedures in place, but it was taking "many hours" to work through the FA's requirements of the action plan.

"This is time that could be used much better on trying to move the club forward," he said.

"If such issues happen again, the sanctions will be much more severe," the chairman warned.

Newton explained that the financial sanction this time was at the lower end of the scale because of the club's record.

"We have a fantastic fanbase which overall represents Boston United in the right way, and are a credit to the club."

Newton appealed to spectators: "We ask all fans to support the club passionately, but please do not cross the line."

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices