The Chelsea loanee was subjected to chants often directed at his parent club.
Yesterday’s win over Norwich City should have been a perfect way to kick off a new Premier League season. Liverpool scored a comfortable 3-0 victory in a packed Carrow Road that included a full-throated traveling Kop, and hearing thousands of people singing and cheering for the first time in ages was just as fun to witness as the match itself.
Unfortunately, the occasion was marred by a group of Liverpool fans who decided to direct a homophobic chant at a Norwich City player. Billy Gilmour, who has been loaned to the Canaries by Chelsea, was subjected to an unnecessary, unacceptable chant that has often been directed at his parent club.
Kop Outs, a fan group for LGBT+ LFC supporters expressed disappointment over the chant via their Twitter account following the match, and it was picked up by the Liverpool FC Twitter account with a clear message that the chant is entirely inappropriate.
The chant is offensive and inappropriate – a message we have repeatedly communicated alongside Kop Outs.
We urge supporters to remember the inclusive values of the club and to refrain from using it in the future. https://t.co/67Q5SKoa88
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 14, 2021
It’s rather disappointing that LFC didn’t use this opportunity to send a clear message that not only are chants of this nature inappropriate, but anyone who participates in them will not be welcome at matches going forward.
Hopefully, the words will be followed with action, and the club will work to identify those responsible. There is no place in football for homophobia or bigotry of any kind, and anyone who engages in these types of chants at a match has no business attending matches.
