The Crown Prosecution Service has defined the 'Chelsea rent boy' sung by fans at multiple Premier League club this season as a 'hate crime' - and not 'harmless banter' among supporters.
A large number of fans have been heard singing the offensive chant this season, despite their own clubs and organisations such as 'Kick It Out' pleading with them not to direct it at players or supporters.
Liverpool condemned their fans for singing the homophobic chant on two separate occasions in August, while Leeds, Tottenham and Everton have been forced to come out with similar complaints this winter.
Now the Director of Public Prosecutions, Max Hill QC, has come out to say the homophobic chanting that has plagued this season is 'vile and disgusting behaviour' that the CPS want to 'stamp out.'
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has called the 'Chelsea rent boy' chant as a 'hate crime'
CPS head Max Hill QC (above) says his organisation wants to 'stamp out' homophobic chants
'Hate crime has no place within society let alone sport,' DPP Hill told The Mirror. 'Recently we have seen an increase of reports in racist and homophobic abuse at football matches and this is a disease we are determined to play our part in cutting out.
'This weekend's FA Cup third round has also been tarnished by reports of racist or homophobic abuse by so called fans at three matches.
'This is vile and disgusting behaviour and the CPS stands with the majority of the public who want to see this stamped out.
'Some may argue it is harmless banter but it means people who are being discriminated against feel less welcome to enjoy a match and support their team in person.
Liverpool fans were twice told to stop singing the offensive chant at the start of this season
'Along with racist slurs we have reconfirmed that homophobic chants are unacceptable and could be subject to prosecution if there is sufficient evidence after a police investigation.
'As a mark of how seriously we take this offending we will always ask for harsher sentences as it amounts to a hate crime. If you see,
