Manchester United has suspended a supporter from attending home and away matches for three years after he used a homophobic slur online. It is believed to be one of the most serious disciplinary actions taken by a professional football club in England against one of its own fans for online abuse.
The incident stems from the fan’s use of the “rent boy” slur — a term widely recognised as homophobic — in a post on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of a match between Manchester United and Chelsea in September.
Just days before the fixture, the 20-time league champions issued a firm warning on social media, stating that the “rent boy” chant and related behaviour would be treated as “Level 4(c)” discriminatory offences, punishable by bans, stadium ejections, and potential legal action.
“Supporters who engage in this behaviour risk serious consequences,” read the club’s statement at the time.
“This includes ejection from the stadium, banning orders, and potential criminal charges.”
Club Follows Through on Warning
Six weeks after that announcement, screenshots shared online showed that the club has followed through on its policy. The fan — whose account has since been deleted — posted a photo of a letter he received from the club, notifying him of a three-year suspension.
According to The Daily Mail, the letter read:
“It has recently come to our attention that you may have breached our official terms and conditions.
Specifically, we understand that you have used homophobic written communication online towards Chelsea and their supporters.
This offence contravenes ground regulations… For a first offence, this carries a three-year suspension (home and away).”
The fan had also reportedly joked online that stewards attempted to remove him from a recent match after he called United fullback Diogo Dalot “a gay ****”.
Although the original post has been deleted, replies from other users remain visible, suggesting wide public awareness of the incident.
LGBTQ+ Groups Applaud Action, Urge Education
The response to the suspension has drawn praise from Manchester United’s official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, Rainbow Devils, who had already issued a statement in September warning fans about the implications of using homophobic chants.
“We want to use education to hopefully avoid any of our fans being punished and to do our best to eradicate this outdated chant,” the group said.
United’s ban policy includes an appeals process involving independent panel members. Additionally, some fans involved in discriminatory incidents have been offered re-education or restorative justice programs through initiatives supported by anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out.
The club also referenced a Kick It Out awareness video in its September statement, featuring openly gay athletes Zander Murray and Jake Williamson, discussing the harmful history of the “rent boy” chant.
A club spokesperson told The Mail:
“Manchester United has zero tolerance of discriminatory language or behaviour of any kind.”
Homophobia in Football Still Prevalent
Recent reports show a rise in homophobic incidents across Premier League matches. More than one-third of Chelsea and Brighton’s games last season involved reports of homophobic behaviour — a stark reminder that discrimination remains a real issue in the sport.
Previously, campaigns like Rainbow Laces were a staple of LGBTQ+ visibility in football. However, the Premier League has shelved the campaign in favour of a new initiative launching in February, aligning with the UK’s LGBTQ+ History Month and the Month of Action for Football v Homophobia.
