March 6 – England’s Football Association is calling on fans to report sexist abuse after being shown unpleasant scenes of female officials and staff being subjected to obscene chanting – some of it again involving Chelsea supporters.
Video footage obtained by the BBC includes a female assistant referee being taunted by Chelsea fans.
The Premier League leaders, whose name has already been tainted by the infamous Paris metro incident, were quick to put out a trouble-shooting statement.
“‘The issue of equality is one that we take extremely seriously at Chelsea Football Club and we abhor discrimination in all its forms, including sexism,” it said. ” We find such behaviour unacceptable and we want it eradicated from the game.”
This season, 25 match-day incidents of sexist abuse have been reported to anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out and equality group Women in Football, up from just two last season. But lack of evidence means no club or fan has been punished by football’s governing bodies.
Manchester United and Manchester City have also been cited and City admitted “a breakdown in communication” meant “the usual investigation process was not followed”.
Chelsea, to be fair, have also been on the end of the problem with club doctor Eva Carneiro subjected to foul chanting by away supporters that left campaigners “gravely concerned”.
A Women in Football survey last season found more than two-thirds of women working within football had been subjected to sexism and 89 % said they had witnessed it but had not reported it for fear it would not be taken seriously.
Britain’s minister for sport, Helen Grant, welcomed the campaign against sexism.
“It is absolutely right we champion and celebrate women who work in the football industry and play vital roles in making the game the success that it is. I want more women to get involved in football across the board and to see it as a great industry to work in,” she said.
“Sexism, in any shape or form, should not be tolerated so I applaud this push to encourage people to report any incidents of sexist abuse and for the promotion of inclusivity across football.”
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