Aksel Kryhlmand
While acknowledging some of the club’s efforts, the commission argued that Tottenham had not taken all reasonable steps in preparing for the fixture and addressing the incident effectively
Tottenham Hotspur have been fined £75,000 by the Football Association (FA) following two instances of homophobic chanting by their supporters during a 3–0 Premier League win against Manchester United at Old Trafford on September 29, 2024.
FA Charges and Match Incidents
The FA confirmed that Tottenham had breached Rule E21 twice, citing misconduct related to crowd control. The incidents occurred in the 49th and 79th minutes of the match:
- 49th minute: Spurs fans reportedly directed homophobic chants toward Mason Mount, referencing his previous Chelsea ties after a foul on Rodrigo Bentancur.
- 79th minute: Chants included homophobic references to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, occurring shortly after a goal by Spurs striker Dominic Solanke.
The FA said that the chants were “improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting”, with explicit or implied references to sexual orientation.
Initial Fine and Appeal
Initially, an independent Regulatory Commission imposed a £150,000 fine along with a formal warning and an action plan. However, following an appeal by the club, an independent Appeal Board reduced the fine to £75,000, citing that the club’s culpability was in fact “low” and that some of the commission’s findings were inconsistent with the evidence provided by Tottenham.
Club Response and Preventative Measures
Tottenham’s Safety Team had sent six experienced stewards to Old Trafford for the match and issued a public statement on the day of the incident condemning the chants as “simply unacceptable, hugely offensive and no way to show support for the team.”
Following the incident, the club took proactive steps ahead of their next away fixture at Brighton, deploying stewards with body cameras and warning supporters in advance of potential consequences for discriminatory behavior. No similar incidents occurred during that match.
Regulatory Commission’s Verdict
The Regulatory Commission found that:
The misconduct was aggravated by the fact that there had been two separate incidents of chanting and that the chants were particularly harmful, given their nature and contents. This harm was aggravated by the fact that this was a Premier League match, televised live to a worldwide audience.
While acknowledging some of the club’s efforts, the commission argued that Tottenham had not taken all reasonable steps in preparing for the fixture and addressing the incident effectively.
