Football fans have once again found themselves in hot water after sections of Chelsea supporters directed expletive-laden chants at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during Saturday’s clash with Brentford.
The incident has sparked renewed debate about political abuse at football matches.
Chants and Symbols at Gtech Community Stadium
Around 1,700 Chelsea fans were in attendance at the Gtech Community Stadium, and several could be heard singing chants such as “Keir Starmer is a w*****” and “we’ve got Palmer, f*** Keir Starmer.”
Some fans also performed “Rule, Britannia,” an anthem that has occasionally been adopted by far-right groups in the UK.
Vendors outside the stadium were reportedly selling Union Jack flags emblazoned with the phrase “stop the boats,” a reference to the ongoing migrant crisis.
A Familiar Target
Sir Keir, who is a lifelong Arsenal supporter, had been at the Emirates Stadium earlier that day to watch Arsenal beat Nottingham Forest.
He has frequently been the target of football chants, both at club level and during England internationals.
Just days earlier, England fans had sung abusive songs about Starmer during the World Cup qualifying win over Andorra at Villa Park in Birmingham.
England Manager Responds
Chelsea’s former manager and current England manager Thomas Tuchel said he did not hear the chants himself but condemned them if they occurred.
“If it happened, it’s not acceptable,” he stated, emphasizing that political abuse has no place in football stadiums.
Wider Context of Political Unrest
The Chelsea-Brentford match coincided with a major right-wing demonstration in London.
Supporters of Tommy Robinson, the anti-immigrant activist whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, held a “Unite The Kingdom” march.
Police reported that they faced significant violence from the 110,000-strong crowd, marking one of the largest right-wing protests in modern British history.
The march started at Stamford Street near Waterloo Bridge and made its way to the southern end of Whitehall, with protesters throwing missiles at officers along the route.
Football, Politics, and Controversy
The chants targeting Sir Keir Starmer underline a worrying trend of political abuse at football matches, combining high emotion, national pride, and social tensions.
While some fans see chanting as part of football culture, critics argue it perpetuates hostility and creates an unsafe environment both in stadiums and online.