Hull City confirmed that several supporters were arrested for discriminatory chanting during the club’s 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round defeat to Chelsea at the MKM Stadium.

Stadium officials first intervened late in the first half via a public address announcement stating that discriminatory chanting had been detected. Spectators were informed that CCTV footage was under review and that individuals identified engaging in criminal behaviour would be removed from the stadium and reported to police.

Approximately an hour into the match, a second announcement informed fans that action had already been taken, including arrests. This followed clearly audible chants of “Chelsea rent boy” from sections of the home support, a phrase widely recognised as homophobic abuse in English football.

The term “rent boy” was formally classified as an anti-gay slur by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2022, bringing its use within the scope of hate crime legislation. As a result, supporters using the chant face potential criminal prosecution and club bans, in line with efforts by authorities and governing bodies to reduce discriminatory behaviour in stadiums.

Hull City later confirmed that multiple individuals had been detained in connection with the chanting, reiterating the club’s position that such language is not acceptable. The club is expected to cooperate with Humberside Police to review available footage and identify any additional suspects.

Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior stated after the match that any form of discriminatory language is unacceptable and indicated support for firm action. He noted that the fourth official had raised the issue with him during the game, although he was largely focused on match-related matters at the time.

On the field, Chelsea advanced to the next round with a 4-0 victory. Pedro Neto scored three goals, and Estêvão added a fourth, reflecting a one-sided contest in favour of the visiting team.

The incident at the MKM Stadium illustrates the ongoing operational and regulatory challenge for clubs, law enforcement and football authorities in addressing homophobic and other discriminatory chanting. Arrests, stadium ejections and potential prosecutions now form a key part of the enforcement framework aimed at changing supporter behaviour.