Boston United fined £700 over homophobic chanting incident
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Boston United Football Club has been fined £700 by the Football Association (FA) following an incident of homophobic chanting during a home fixture against Woking on 8 March. The offensive phrase, reportedly shouted from the North Stand, was deemed a breach of FA Rule E21, which prohibits language that is improper, offensive, abusive, indecent or insulting with reference to sexual orientation.
In a statement, club chairman David Newton expressed deep disappointment over the incident and reiterated Boston United’s zero tolerance stance on discriminatory behaviour. “This is simply not acceptable,” Newton said, adding that the chant - identified as “get up you puff” - may have been considered acceptable in the past but is unequivocally offensive today.
The FA has imposed an action plan on the club to prevent future occurrences, requiring Boston United to implement additional measures and procedures. Newton acknowledged the burden this places on club resources, stating, “It is taking many hours to work through the FA’s requirements… time that could be used much better on trying to move the club forward.”
The chairman also warned that future violations could result in significantly harsher penalties. He emphasised the importance of maintaining the club’s reputation and called on supporters to uphold respectful conduct. “We have a fantastic fanbase… but there remains a minority that cross the line,” Newton said. “We ask all fans to support the club passionately, but please do not cross the line.”
Boston United is also finalising a text reporting system to allow fans to discreetly report discriminatory behaviour at matches. The club has previously dealt with a separate incident involving racial abuse directed at a player by an away supporter, further underscoring the need for vigilance and accountability.
