The Football Association has charged Millwall with improper conduct following homophobic chants directed at Ben Chilwell during their FA Cup fifth round tie against Crystal Palace last month.
Eagles defender Chilwell, currently on loan from Chelsea, was the target of abuse from away fans in the first half of the Lions' 3-1 defeat at Selhurst Park on March 1.
Alex Neil's side were reduced to ten men in the eighth minute of a tense London derby when goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off for a kick to the head of Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Mateta was taken to hospital where he received 25 stitches to his left ear, while Roberts was subsequently suspended for six matches for the fight, which Eagles chairman Steve Parish described as “the most reckless” he had ever seen.
The Football Association condemned chants of “Let him die” directed at Mateta by some fans while he was receiving treatment on the pitch, but was unable to investigate because the actions did not break the rules.
However, the organisation intends to punish Millwall for incidents involving England international Chilwell.
“Millwall Football Club have been charged with improper conduct in relation to the management of spectators following their FA Cup match against Crystal Palace Football Club on Saturday 1 March,” the Football Association said in a statement.
“It is alleged that during the period from the fifth to the twentieth minute the club failed to ensure that its spectators and/or supporters (and anyone posing as a supporter) behaved appropriately and did not use words or behave in a manner that was inappropriate, offensive, obscene or derogatory, making any explicit or implicit reference to sexual orientation.”
Millwall said it would “make every effort” to pursue the claim.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
