Liverpool slam ‘offensive, inappropriate’ anti-gay chants aimed at Norwich’s Billy Gilmour
"We urge supporters to remember the inclusive values of the club"
Words: Jamie Tabberer; pictures: Scottish footballer Billy Gilmour (Wiki/Instagram)
A Liverpool FC rep has condemned anti-gay abuse directed at Norwich’s Billy Gilmour at a game on Saturday [14 August 2021].
Scottish player Gilmour is currently on loan to Norwich from Chelsea, having joined the team last month.
According to The Guardian, the 20-year-old was targeted during the game at Carrow Road Stadium because of his parent club.
“Inclusive values”
On Twitter, a member of Kop Outs, Liverpool’s LGBTQ fan group, said the game was “marred by homophobic chanting by some of our fans targeting Chelsea loanee Billy Gilmour. If you can’t support without resorting to bigoted nonsense, you don’t understand YNWA.”
(‘YNWA’ stands for ‘you’ll never walk alone,’ a line from Liverpool’s club anthem.)
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
The main Liverpool FC Twitter account then retweeted Kop Outs’ post, with a rep adding: “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.”
Great result today marred by homophobic chanting by some of our fans targeting Chelsea loanee Billy Gilmour. If you can’t support without resorting to bigoted nonsense, you don’t understand YNWA. https://t.co/McUxyjbQhw
— Kop Outs! 🌈⚽🏳️🌈 (@LFC_LGBT) August 14, 2021
Gilmour was baselessly called a ‘Chelsea rent boy’ – a remark commonly targeted at Chelsea players by rival club fans – reports PN.
The Kop Outs’ tweet also referenced a 2019 statement by campaign group Kick It Out which states: “The ‘rent boy’ chant has been directed at Chelsea for years, with little action taken by the FA or Police – and that must not continue. We are absolutely clear: the chant is homophobic and must be treated as such.”
Attitude has contacted Norwich FC for comment.
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