Leeds United's LGBTQ+ fan group founders forced to leave Premier League match after homophobic abuse

The founders of Leeds United’s LGBTQ+ supporters’ group were forced to leave a Premier League match after being subjected to repeated homophobic slurs from a fellow spectator.

Andrew Tilly and Drew Harrison, who established Marching Out Together in 2017, had travelled to Brighton for Leeds United’s fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion on 1 November. The match, held at the south-coast club’s Falmer Stadium, ended in a 3–0 victory for the hosts - but for the pair, the experience was overshadowed by the abuse they endured.

Speaking on the Football v Homophobia Podcast, Tilly recalled that a man seated behind them, accompanied by his young son, directed a series of anti-gay insults throughout the game. The man reportedly referred to Brighton fans as “queer b*******” and also shouted homophobic slurs at Brighton forward Danny Welbeck.

Tilly challenged the behaviour, telling the man his language was unacceptable. “He was obviously angry, and then he continued with his chants,” Tilly said. “Brighton scored a goal, and he was asking me why I wasn’t celebrating, saying I was ‘one of them’, and similar homophobic remarks.”

The situation escalated to the point where Harrison felt unsafe remaining in the stands. “My friend felt sufficiently intimidated to say he wanted to leave the ground. So we chose to leave,” Tilly explained.

As the pair made their way out, several nearby supporters expressed their support and urged them not to feel pressured into leaving. One fan later contacted Marching Out Together, offering to submit a witness statement to help pursue action against the offender.

Tilly reported the incident to a police officer at the match and notified Brighton’s incident line, as well as Leeds United and the club’s safety officer. However, he said that months later, there has been little communication from West Yorkshire Police, Sussex Police or either club about the progress of the complaint.

“What’s disappointing is that it acts as a deterrent to people to report in future,” Tilly said. “If things aren’t going to get followed up, then what’s the point? Prosecutions are appropriate in certain situations, but they can be drawn out and difficult to secure. It’s much easier for clubs to make decisions.”

The incident comes against a backdrop of rising discriminatory behaviour across football. Data released by Kick It Out in August 2025 showed that 1,398 discriminatory incidents were reported across professional football, grassroots settings and social media during the 2024/25 season - an increase on the previous year. The figures highlighted a spike in sexism, transphobia and faith-based abuse, with racism remaining the most frequently reported issue.

Despite this, a 2023 Kick It Out survey of nearly 3,000 fans found that three-quarters believe supporters are more concerned about discrimination than they were 30 years ago, and most feel football is more inclusive today than when the organisation launched in 1993. Yet 85% said more work is still needed.