Exclusive: 1000% against promoting gay rights Chelsea fan group chairmans homophobic co -

Chelsea’s LGBT supporters group is calling for the co-chair of the club’s supporters trust to stand down after a series of homophobic messages, which can today be exclusively revealed by The Athletic.

The Chelsea Pride fan group has told the club that it has no confidence in newly-elected Supporters Trust co-chair David Johnstone to fairly represent their LGBT members as the club’s recognised fan spokesperson.

In leaked messages between Johnstone and other Supporters Trust board members, he says he is “1000% against promoting gay rights”, and that LGBT relationships are neither “the norm” nor “natural”.

The messages come from a discussion last November about displaying a Chelsea Pride banner at Stamford Bridge, showing solidarity with the club’s LGBT supporters as part of Rainbow Laces Week, the English game’s annual display of LGBT pride.

Rainbow Laces is promoted by LGBT equality charity Stonewall, and has the backing of the Premier League and the FA.

Johnstone sets out his strong opposition to the displaying of a banner, saying: “Not going to happen in the Matthew Harding [stand] unless we have a ‘Proud of Being A White English Heterosexual’ crowd surfer.”

He goes on to say of the proposed banner: “You won’t get any help from me, my guys, and we won’t store it.” He adds: “I will resign from the CST [Chelsea Supporters Trust] if that vote [to display the banner] wins and actively campaign against it — I am 100% against it.”

The messages have surfaced since Johnstone was last week elected co-chair of the Supporters Trust, following six years sitting on the board.

In an exchange which takes place on the WhatsApp mobile messaging app across a number of hours, Johnstone also writes: “Nailed on that footballers who are made to wear rainbow laces and armbands are against it too but are being forced to take part.”

Both of Chelsea’s last two captains, Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta, have supported the campaign by wearing rainbow-coloured laces or armbands in matches, and have spoken enthusiastically in support of LGBT equality.

The concerns of Chelsea Pride are understood to particularly involve Johnstone’s role in supporter advocacy — which is a large part of the Supporter Trust’s caseload.

Sources raised the issue of what would happen if fans were accused of singing homophobic songs and Johnstone was required to investigate or publicly speak out about such matters.

The Athletic has also seen messages between Johnstone and board members from another occasion, where he writes: “I am strongly against any form of racial discrimination but am strongly against the promotion of any sexual persuasion.”

He continues: “Cannot agree with the idea of transgender at all — you want diversity? I have diverse ideas to you so you’ll have to live with it.”

In all the Chelsea Supporters Trust discussions seen by The Athletic, all voices other than Johnstone’s are in favour of showing support for LGBT equality.

Both the chair and board members of the Supporters Trust fulfil voluntary roles and the Trust is independent from the club — though it is Chelsea’s preferred supporter group for fan relations, as it is the club’s only democratically elected fan body.

The Trust has previously spoken out against homophobic abuse, notably in opposition to the use of the barb “Chelsea rent boys” aimed at its support by fans of some opposition clubs.

In April, it was part of a united front involving both Chelsea and Liverpool and Liverpool’s LGBT supporter group Kop Outs in condemning use of the chant by some of the home support in a clash between the sides at Anfield.

The previous head of the Trust David Chidgey has since had to step down due to a three-year limit on chairmanship of the organisation.

A spokesperson for Chelsea Supporters Trust said: “The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust has a proud history of representing all Chelsea supporters, irrespective of their race, religion or sexual identity. The comments in question, which were expressed by a board member in a private communication, do not represent the position of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust and the board does not condone them.

“The board operates on the principle of collective responsibility. Board members are expected to demonstrate a high standard of personal conduct. This includes putting aside personal opinions in order to represent the views of the Trust’s membership, and Chelsea supporters more generally.The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust will work with external partners, such as the Football Supporters Association, to consider whether further action is appropriate.”

A spokesperson added that the Trust will be reaching out to Chelsea Pride in the very near future.

A spokesman for Chelsea said: “The Chelsea Supporters Trust is a supporter group operated wholly independently of Chelsea Football Club, and as such, membership of the CST and its board is a matter for them. We welcome the Trust’s statement reiterating their commitment to inclusion and diversity and note they will consider whether further action is appropriate. Chelsea Football Club is a diverse and inclusive club and we proudly stand up for the rights of the LGBT community.”

(Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Pride in London)

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