Football fans ejected after anti-gay chants in Brighton V Ipswich match
Three Brighton and Hove Albion football fans were ejected from Ipswich’s Portman Road stadium at the weekend after trouble flared over homophobic taunts by rival fans.
Four Ipswich fans were also removed from the ground on Saturday.
Sussex Police’s football liaison officer Darren Balkham said that investigations were ongoing into an alleged incident involving an Albion fan and a steward.
He said: “The chanting resulted in a strong reaction from the away fans and we are looking at CCTV footage to work out what happened.”
It is thought that the disturbance started after homophobic chanting by Ipswich fans.
Brighton was playing away to Ipswich at Portman Road and lost 2-0.
In August, Caroline Lucas, the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, urged the Football Association to take action against anti-gay abuse faced by Albion fans. Research in May found Brighton fans were on the receiving end of homophobic abuse at 57% of all matches.
Rival fans have long mocked Brighton supporters because of the city’s famous LGBT heritage.
