Dear All Received this from the club, they are obviously quite worried about this As you may be aware, there is a small element of the fan base who are continuing to sing the ‘Rent Boy’ chant. We have been informed that there is a very real risk of the club being fined if this continues. FULL STATEMENT We are incredibly proud of the backing the team receives from our fans.However, a small minority are continuing to engage in homophobic chanting despite our best efforts to eradicate this.We are working closely with the police and football authorities to identify and take action against those responsible. During the 2024/25 season, homophobic chanting was recorded at 11 of our matches, including two home fixtures and nine away fixtures. As a result of these incidents: Nine individuals have been subject to police action. Three have received football banning orders. Six are currently involved in ongoing investigations. It is important to note that individuals found guilty of discriminatory behaviour in court such as this may face a criminal record, which can have long-term consequences beyond football. If police action cannot be taken, the club will take action. The same chant has been heard already this season at home to Preston North End and at Plymouth Argyle. We are actively working with the police to identify anyone involved and will pursue appropriate action. As a football club, we may be subjected to FA penalties should this behaviour continue. QPR condemns all forms of discrimination and abuse. Homophobia has no place in football or society. We urge all fans to stand with us in challenging hate and promoting respect, both in the stands and beyond. Supporters are reminded that QPR has a clear Sanctioning Policy, which outlines the consequences of discriminatory behaviour. You can read it HERE. If you witness discriminatory behaviour at a match, please report it immediately to a steward or through the reporting line, which is monitored throughout the match: 07557 435 421. Together, we can make football a game for everyone. The club and the police will obviously both be taking action, and it is also daft getting our club fined over this...we have better chants than that anyway!
The fa differs in your opinion Totally Wolves have become the first club to be punished by the Football Association solely over the homophobic chant of “Chelsea rent boy” by their fans. They have been fined £100,000 and given an action plan by the FA after supporters chanted the slur during a fixture against Chelsea in April. We cannot afford to give away £ 100,000 for a silly chant
Two things can be true at once. Whether you think it’s homophobic or not, the people who decide these things do and they’re coming down like a ton of bricks on clubs so it’s wise the club shows it’s doing what it can to stop it happening. That’s just a fact. It’s also true it’s a ridiculous situation and a massive overreaction that probably has the opposite effect by getting a song not sung particularly often or by many people talked about and to the yoof at the back high on Haribo it becomes more appealing. But that’s an opinion. I would be interested to know if gay QPR fans are offended by it. Even if they aren’t it doesn’t necessarily mean it should be ignored but it’s easy for me to say as a straight man (my boyfriend isn’t) whether this is OTT.
You may have gussed that I am gay. Personally I'm not bothered by this chant. Controversially among some of my acquaintance I feel that the scale of action against it is disproportionate and risks being counterproductive. However, I would still discourage the chant and similar. Its implication is that it is bad/shameful both to be a sex worker and to be gay. Such insults can be anything from friendly banter to aggressive hostility; context is relevant. The context of a sporting confrontation in a sport where gay men have historically been ill-treated and still appear wildly under-represented doesn't help. It is unsurprising that some gay fans, without being hypersensitive, feel that its message is that they are disliked and unwanted. If you want your club to be open and welcoming to anyone of goodwill, regardless of their private life or opinions on the controversies of the day, I would recomend actively discouraging actions that work against this. In my view, people should be free to express distaste or disapproval of homosexuality, or argue that it is bad for society. However, a football club that believes that a chant damages its aim to attract support from all quarters is entitled to discourage it.
