Bolton Wanderers fans warned not to sing homophobic chants at Brighton game
BOLTON Wanderers fans are being warned not to sing homophobic chants at the Brighton game tomorrow.
The club and the police say any such chants "will not be tolerated".
They will be running a campaign at the match, with stewards and officers handing cards to both sets of fans about reporting hate crime.
There will also be an advert in the match-day programmes outlining the club’s support for police action against homophobic offences.
Stewards have been asked to inform officers if they hear any derogatory comments.
PC Rob Smith, Bolton's football co-ordination officer for Greater Manchester Police, said: “The message to anyone tempted to get involved in homophobic chants, or any other kind of abuse, is simple – don’t do it, or you will be arrested.
"Some people regard this sort of thing as just a bit of banter, but it isn’t – it can cause great offence to those it’s directed at, and we will take positive action against offenders.”
Bolton Wanderers club chaplain Phil Mason said: “The work that the club is doing with GMP forms part of the ongoing Kick It Out campaign, which aims to stamp out all forms of hate crime at the Reebok.
"We take this issue very seriously, and within our community trust we’ve also been working with younger people to highlight the issues surrounding hate crime, and how it can be reported.”
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BOLTON Wanderers fans are being warned not to sing homophobic chants at the Brighton game tomorrow.
The club and the police say any such chants "will not be tolerated".
They will be running a campaign at the match, with stewards and officers handing cards to both sets of fans about reporting hate crime.
There will also be an advert in the match-day programmes outlining the club’s support for police action against homophobic offences.
Stewards have been asked to inform officers if they hear any derogatory comments.
PC Rob Smith, Bolton's football co-ordination officer for Greater Manchester Police, said: “The message to anyone tempted to get involved in homophobic chants, or any other kind of abuse, is simple – don’t do it, or you will be arrested.
"Some people regard this sort of thing as just a bit of banter, but it isn’t – it can cause great offence to those it’s directed at, and we will take positive action against offenders.”
Bolton Wanderers club chaplain Phil Mason said: “The work that the club is doing with GMP forms part of the ongoing Kick It Out campaign, which aims to stamp out all forms of hate crime at the Reebok.
"We take this issue very seriously, and within our community trust we’ve also been working with younger people to highlight the issues surrounding hate crime, and how it can be reported.”
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]