LGBTQ+ Group Founders Face Homophobic Abuse at Football Match

The founders of Marching Out Together, an official LGBTQ+ supporters group for Leeds United, were subjected to homophobic abuse during a Premier League match on November 1, 2025. Andrew Tilly and Drew Harrison attended the game at Brighton & Hove Albion’s home ground in Falmer, where they experienced a series of anti-gay slurs from a fellow fan, prompting their decision to leave early.

Tilly recounted the incident on the Football v Homophobia Podcast, describing how a man seated behind them made derogatory remarks during the match, including chants targeting Brighton fans. “There was a guy behind us with his young son who made a number of homophobic remarks during the game,” Tilly shared. The remarks escalated as the man asked why Tilly was not celebrating Brighton’s goals, insinuating he was “one of them,” and continued with further slurs aimed at Brighton forward Danny Welbeck.

Feeling sufficiently intimidated, Tilly’s friend expressed a desire to leave the stadium. Tilly noted that several nearby fans encouraged them to stay, highlighting the support from allies in the crowd. One individual even reached out to Marching Out Together, offering to provide a witness statement to help ensure the abusive fan faced consequences.

Following the incident, Tilly reported the abuse to a police officer present at the game and contacted Brighton’s club incident line. He also shared details with Leeds United’s safety officer. Despite these efforts, Tilly expressed frustration over the lack of updates from both West Yorkshire Police and Sussex Police, stating, “What’s disappointing is that it acts as a deterrent to people to report in future.”

The issue of discriminatory incidents in football remains pressing. Data from the campaign group Kick It Out revealed that there were 1,398 reports of discrimination during the 2024/25 season, reflecting an increase from the previous year. The figures highlighted a rise in incidents of sexism, transphobia, and faith-based abuse, while racism remained the most reported form of discrimination.

Despite the rising numbers, a 2023 survey indicated that many football fans believe discrimination is declining. According to the Impact Report published by Kick It Out, approximately 75% of fans feel that fellow supporters are more conscious of discrimination than they were 30 years ago. The survey, which included nearly 3,000 participants, found that 73% believe football has become a more inclusive sport since Kick It Out’s inception in 1993.

Nevertheless, 85% of survey respondents acknowledged that more work is needed to combat discrimination in football. In recent years, the Football Association (FA) has taken steps to address homophobic chants, including the notorious “Chelsea rent boy” chant. In 2023, the FA announced that clubs would face fines or formal disciplinary action for fans engaging in such behavior.

In July 2023, Wolverhampton Wanderers became the first club to face sanctions over homophobic chants, setting a precedent that has seen several clubs penalized since. As the conversation around discrimination in football continues, the experiences of Tilly and Harrison underscore the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ supporters within the sport.

The need for effective action and accountability remains crucial as clubs, fans, and authorities work towards creating a more inclusive environment in football.