LGBTQ+ football match abandoned after accusation of homophobic disruption
London Titans FC (LTFC 2025)
London Titans FC, an LGBTQ+ football team, has condemned alleged homophobic abuse they faced at a Gay Football Supports Network League match against Nottingham Lions on 25 April.
The incident happened at Club des Sports in Acton. The pitch had been hired for the match for £400 via Hire a Pitch, who London Titans FC have now called on for accountability.
During the second half of the match, a group of young men allegedly repeatedly entered the pitch and caused disruption.
They allegedly refused to leave when asked by players and officials, spat at a linesman, and cycled across the pitch on a Lime bike, forcing play to be stopped.
After being asked to leave, the men allegedly hurled homophobic abuse at both players and officials. The referee then abandoned the match after the alleged verbal abuse escalated into a physical confrontation.
The incident was reported to the Metropolitan Police, with witness statements given to Ealing’s Met Police LGBTQ+ liaison officer.
London Titans have also submitted a formal complaint to the Club des Sports site owners and Hire a Pitch.
In a letter sent to Club des Sports and Hire a Pitch, the team said: “At no point was there any visible or effective presence of site management from either Hire a Pitch or Club des Sports to control access, manage behaviour, or protect paying customers of the site.”
A Hire a Pitch representative reportedly apologised to the group of men after they were made to leave.
The Titans added in their letter: “This response was unacceptable. The correct and expected action should have been to gather the facts and then immediate removal of the trespassers, and an apology to the paying customers who had been subjected to abuse and disruption.”
They added: “Whilst London Titans FC fully supports grassroots participation in football, this does not override the fact that we pay for a private facility, hired by our organisation during the agreed hours and date. The individuals involved in the incidents were trespassing, and their actions created an unacceptable and unsafe
environment.”
The team has now requested a full refund of the hiring fee, immediate implementation of effective pitch-side management, mandatory training and clear protocols for Hire a Pitch representatives, and for full cooperation with any Met Police investigation.
A Hire a Pitch representative told PinkNews: “For clarity, the facts as we understand them are as follows: It has been alleged that the Titans game was being interrupted by males on the sidelines. It has also been alleged that these individuals were the aggressors and used homophobic slurs. At present, these claims have not been substantiated with evidence.
“Our staff member arrived after a scuffle had already begun and observed what appeared to be Titans participants acting aggressively, including physical contact involving a minor, which is a serious matter in itself.
“Without access to CCTV footage – which we do not control – we are unable to conclusively determine exactly what occurred. As a result, the most responsible action available to us at the time was to apologise for the incident and acknowledge the concerns raised.
“It is also important to note that the venue is a large site. Titans have direct access to our phone number, email address, and live chat support. None of these channels were used at the time of the incident. Had any immediate contact been made, the two additional members of staff at reception, alongside the staff member already present, would have responded immediately.
“We are concerned that this matter is being framed primarily as an LGBTQ+ issue when, based on the information currently available, it appears to relate more broadly to disruptive behaviour and safety concerns involving young males attempting to interfere with a game. There is no evidence to suggest the disturbance occurred specifically because it was an LGBTQ+ fixture. We therefore strongly reject any attempt to misrepresent the situation for publicity purposes.
“Hire a Pitch would also like to make absolutely clear that we do not tolerate or condone discrimination of any kind, including homophobia or discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all players, teams, and visitors using our facilities.
“In fact, Titans have been valued customers of ours for many years, which makes the decision to escalate this matter to the press particularly disappointing.
“While there have, on occasion, been booking or scheduling issues caused by administrative or system errors, these incidents were entirely unintentional and were never motivated by discrimination in any form. We recognise that operational mistakes can understandably cause frustration, and we continue to improve our systems and procedures to minimise the likelihood of such issues occurring.
“We strongly reject any suggestion that Hire a Pitch is indifferent to the safety, inclusion, or wellbeing of LGBTQ+ players and teams. Equality, respect, and accessibility are values we take seriously, and we remain fully committed to ensuring all individuals feel welcome at our venues.”
PinkNews has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.
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