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Since the start of the 2007/8 season, changes to the ground regulations for all 92 league clubs came into force, namely that regulation 8.1 outlawing racism now extends to homophobic abuse:

8.1: “Racial, homophobic or discriminatory abuse, chanting or harassment is strictly forbidden and will result in arrest and/or ejection from the ground."

Launch

The GFSN campaign was launched in August 2006 at Charlton Athletic, where six members of Nottingham Ball Bois joined delegates from the GFSN and other gay football teams.

Brendan Batson of the Professional Footballers' Association, and one of West Bromwich Albion's ground-breaking trio of black players in the late 1970s, compared the challenges of fighting homophobia with his earlier experiences of racism as a player. With both being difficult journeys to undertake, he urged "Don't be afraid."

Other speakers represented the Metropolitan Police, the FA, the Football Supporters' Federation and the GFSN.

Liaison Officers

From the launch of the campaign came a year-long project whereby volunteers will act as liaison officers with their local professional clubs in order to make them aware of the new regulations and advise on their implementation. Members of Nottingham Ball Bois have been engaging with clubs across the East Midlands in order to begin this process.

Local successes

Nottingham Forest FC has given a very positive response to the campaign. On March 24 2008, in the programme for their home game against Brighton and Hove Albion, a page was dedicated to homophobia in football. The club's safety officer outlined Forest's support for the initiative and the practical steps that they are now taking, stating that: "We look forward to working with the GFSN and other organisations in the future and any incidents of homophobia at The City Ground will be dealt with in the same positive way we deal with racism."

Nottingham Ball Bois have also been spreading the anti-homophobia message in other ways. Talks about the club and its part in the awareness campaign have been given to gay men's groups in Nottingham and Derby, and to a gay youth group in Nottingham. The Ball Bois have also been filmed as part of a local television documentary on homophobia in football since the death of Justin Fashanu.

Further information

For more information on the GFSN national campaign, see their website.

For more information about our anti-homophobia awareness work locally, or if you would like us to come and speak to your group or organisation, please contact us directly.