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Chelsea's win over Hull City in the FA Cup was overshadowed after discriminatory chanting led to fans inside the ground being arrested.

The Championship club issued warnings over their PA system to stop chants during the first-half, while messages were displayed on the screens within the stadium, after "Chelsea rent boy" was directed towards the Premier League side.

Supporters at the MKM Stadium were reminded that discriminatory chanting is a criminal offence and CCTV was being monitored inside the ground.

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During the second-half, further announcements were made informing supporters that action had been taken, including arrests.

Tigers head coach Sergej Jakirovic expressed his disappointment at the chants from supporters reaffirming that there is no place for discrimination.

He said: "Didn’t hear that. This is not the place for this, in the stadium or in public as well.

"It’s not good, for sure. The stadium is not a place for that and this is the reason why there are arrests."

In a statement published in 2023, Chelsea welcomed the decision from the Crown Prosecution Service that considered the term "rent boy" as a homophobic slur and hate crime.

"Chelsea Football Club welcomes the FA’s decision to class the homophobic chant directed at our supporters as a breach of FA rules which could lead to disciplinary action being taken," the statement began.

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"This follows the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service to class this hugely offensive chant as a hate crime.

"The ‘Rent Boy’ chant is intolerable and has no place in football or anywhere else. That opposition clubs can now face disciplinary action if their supporters engage in this discriminatory and offensive behaviour is a step in the right direction. Everyone who chooses to participate in this chant must know their actions have consequences.

"Alongside our No To Hate campaign, we will continue to work with the FA, the CPS, opposition clubs, and our own LGBTQI+ supporter group Chelsea Pride in the pursuit of positive change. There is plenty more work to be done, but we won’t rest until football is a game where everyone feels welcome.

"Supporters are reminded they can report hate, whether experienced in the stadium or online, directly to us. Click here for more information and to report abuse."

Hull had issued a reminder to fans on Thursday that "chanting of a homophobic, racist or discriminatory nature is entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated".

They warned supporters that anyone found engaging in such behaviour would face serious consequences, including immediate ejection from the stadium, a banning order and criminal prosecution.

After Pedro Neto's goal separated the two sides in the first-half, the Portuguese forward added two goals in the second to complete his hat-trick while Estevao got in on the act.

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