Millwall have been formally charged with misconduct by the Football Association following homophobic chanting aimed at Crystal Palace left-back Ben Chilwell during their FA Cup fixture last month.
The incident occurred during Palace’s 3-1 victory over their south London rivals in the fifth round of the competition. The chants, which were directed at Chilwell—currently on loan at Selhurst Park from Chelsea—were reported to have taken place in both the fifth and 20th minutes of the match.
FA clamp down on discriminatory abuse
After the match, the FA confirmed it would investigate the incident. That probe has now led to charges being issued to Millwall, who have until Wednesday to provide a response. In addition to the homophobic chants, the FA also criticised sections of the Millwall support for directing chants of “let him die” at Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta while he received medical attention for a serious injury.
The French forward required 25 stitches for what the club described as a “severe laceration to his left ear” following a red-card challenge from Lions goalkeeper Liam Roberts during the heated encounter.
Millwall have since reiterated their stance against discrimination, issuing a statement in response to the charge.
“The chant in question is condemned by Millwall Football Club and once again it strongly emphasises its zero-tolerance policy against discrimination of all kinds. The club remains committed to working tirelessly to eradicate homophobic chanting, and any other form of discriminatory abuse, from the sport.”
The incident adds to a troubling history of crowd behaviour issues linked to the club, despite ongoing efforts to improve standards. The FA has increased its scrutiny on discriminatory abuse in recent seasons and continues to urge clubs to be more proactive in tackling such conduct among supporters.
Writer’s view
Millwall’s response shows awareness of the gravity of the situation, but the repeated occurrence of such chants at their fixtures remains a concern. The FA’s charge is a necessary step, but real progress will depend on meaningful action at club level—both in fan education and in making clear there’s no place for this behaviour. The injury to Mateta and the chants that followed only underscore the need for a cultural shift among sections of the crowd.
