With Wolves set to host Brighton & Hove Albion at Molineux this weekend, the club is reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination of any kind.
In July, the club was handed a £100,000 fine from the Football Association (FA) in relation to homophobic chanting by a section of Wolves supporters during the home match against Chelsea in April.
In addition, the club was issued with an Action Plan by the FA, which includes continuing to increase awareness of unacceptable behaviour, meaning communication of this nature is now deemed essential ahead of some fixtures.
During last season’s home fixture against Brighton, five Wolves supporters were ejected from the stadium for homophobic gestures, of which three were followed up by West Midlands Police, resulting in two criminal convictions.
Supporters who are not prosecuted by police or issued a Football Banning Order, are still at risk of being banned from all Wolves matches if deemed to have contravened Wolves’ Acceptable Behaviour Policy, which can be viewed by clicking here.
More information and a full breakdown of the 2022/23 sanction data, including categorisation of incidents leading to investigation or sanction, can be found by clicking here, in an article that was published in April, as part of One Pack Week.
Whilst creating an incredible atmosphere at Molineux is what our supporters do best, Wolves urge fans to consider the acceptability of their behaviour and whether it crosses a line into discrimination or illegality, while thinking also of the other people in the stadium who may be impacted as a result of their actions.
For avoidance of doubt, homophobic abuse is considered a hate crime in the UK, and while the laws predominantly deal with crimes committed directly against LGBTQ+ people, it also includes crimes committed where the suspect has mistakenly identified another person as belonging to or associated with the LGBTQ+ community and/or a protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
PC Stuart Ward, football hate crime officer from West Midlands Police, said: "There is no place for discrimination in football, or society in general, we will always fully investigate any reports we receive from supporters, and we'll seek to bring those involved before the courts to face punishment.”
Supporters inside the stadium are encouraged to report any incidents of discrimination on the day to their nearest matchday steward or via the Not In Our Pack text line on 07723 479887, starting the message with WOLVES.
Instances of discrimination relating to the match online or on social media, are to be reported to fanservices@wolves.co.uk or directly to West Midlands Police via west-midlands.police.uk.
