""There was a guy behind us with his young son, shocking that he was with his son, who made a number of homophobic remarks during the game," Tilly recalled on the latest episode of the Football v Homophobia Podcast. These remarks included calling Brighton fans "queer b*******" in a chant and aiming slurs at Brighton forward Danny Welbeck. "I confronted him and said that his remarks were unacceptable. He was obviously angry, and then he continued with his chants," Tilly said."
"Due to the homophobic remarks, Tilly said: "My friend felt sufficiently intimidated to say he wanted to leave the ground. So we chose to leave." However, as they went to leave, several fans around them said they should not have to go, with Tilly describing these allies as "really decent individuals". One supportive individual even contacted Marching Out Together and expressed his outrage at the incident, offering to make a witness statement to support the homophobic individual being banned from future matches."
Andrew Tilly and Drew Harrison, founders of Marching Out Together, experienced homophobic abuse at Brighton's Falmer ground on 1 November during a 3-0 match defeat. A nearby fan made repeated homophobic chants and slurs, including targeting Brighton players and calling fans offensive names. Confrontation did not stop the abuse, and the victims chose to leave because one felt intimidated. Several nearby fans intervened as allies and one offered to provide a witness statement. Tilly reported the incident to a police officer at the game and to both clubs, yet there has been little update from West Yorkshire Police.
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