Football fan prohibited from screaming homophobic blows, “ready to make up for good again”.

The Kick It Out course is headed by Alan Bush, Fan Education and Engagement Manager of the charity, who has completed more than 400 sessions in the past five years. During this time, 40 fans of police or clubs were expelled to him for the use of the Chelsea slur.

“We cannot affect discrimination and we cannot simply ban football fans from football. Everything we do is that we push it back into society,” said Bush.

“Football has the responsibility to educate its fans … Then the fans say to other fans that you can't say that buddy, they will end up in court 'or' You can't say that because that is wrong '. There is an opportunity that you will report that you will challenge. And I just think that a much better than just people have to forbid.”

He added that “the vast majority did not understand the severity of this, how insulting it is [chant] can be how this can cause an individual harassment, alarm and stress.

In order to illustrate his point of view, Bush tells the perpetrators the story of Lee Johnson, a passionate Tottenham fan who has been forced from football for almost a decade after hearing the Chelsea singing in White Hart Lane as a teenager.

“It shaken me to my core,” Johnson, who is now Co chairman of the proud LilyWhites, told the LGBTQ+ supporter association of Tottenham Hotspur – to BBC Sport.

“It felt like all the lights had run out and I was only isolated from myself. It only brought me back when I was younger at school. 'Rent Boy' was one of the things I got earlier, [called]. “

Johnson had often been a destination for abuse in his hometown. Football used to be an escape, somewhere he could “be lost in the magic of the game” but hear homophobic singing, let him question everything.

“I thought I was safe here? 'If people around me knew that I was gay, would they attack me or be verbally abusive?

“People used a term that has caused me a lot of damage over the years. It is very traumatic. I think it was still the first half and I only said to my friend: 'I can't be here.