CLUB STATEMENT: Supporter Behaviour – Friday 13th January 2023

The club have released the following statement.

Regrettably, there has been some unacceptable supporter banter and chanting apparent at recent home games. For the avoidance of doubt, Chippenham Town FC’s policy is that unacceptable behaviour of any nature will not be tolerated or condoned under any circumstances and individuals, be they home or away supporters engaging in it, risk removal from the ground. They may also face additional sanctions eg a stadium ban or police action should the Club consider such further action appropriate.

The FA has also recently written to all clubs following a recent prosecution by the Crown Prosecution Service for homophobic abuse relating to a ‘Chelsea Rent Boy’ chant, reminding them that it is a breach of FA Rules for a club’s supporters, or anyone purporting to be its supporters, to engage in discriminatory behaviour.

Given the outcome of the recent criminal prosecution, the FA now considers this specific chant to amount to a breach of FA Rules and reserves the right to pursue formal disciplinary action against any club whose supporters engage in such behaviour going forward whether they be attending home or away fixtures.

Chippenham Town FC takes this opportunity to remind its supporters that clubs at all levels of English football have a responsibility to ensure their spectators conduct themselves in an orderly fashion when attending matches. A due diligence defence is not available to a club charged for its spectators engaging in discriminatory behaviour.