Chelsea to warn fans over sectarian chant heard during 3-2 win at Fulham

Chelsea will write to supporters who attended Monday’s 3-2 Premier League victory at Craven Cottage after a section of away fans sang the sectarian chant ‘Flute for 50 Pence’ during the West London derby. Club officials became aware of the chant during the match and are now set to act.

According to reports, Stamford Bridge chiefs plan to trace those who purchased tickets for the fixture and contact them by email, asking them not to repeat the chant. The FA has also been made aware of the situation. The opening verse of the song includes the line: “F*** the Pope and the IRA.”

The chant has been linked to Chelsea’s long-standing association with Scottish club Rangers and has previously been directed at Celtic, a club with deep ties to the Roman Catholic Church. The incident carries potential financial consequences for Chelsea: in October 2025, the FA fined Lincoln £8,500 after their supporters twice directed the same chant at former Wrexham and Republic of Ireland international James McClean.

The match itself provided a dramatic backdrop. The Premier League’s decision to schedule a West London derby on the opening weekend created a charged atmosphere at Craven Cottage, and Chelsea wasted little time making their mark — Joao Pedro scored inside the first minute to give Xabi Alonso a winning start to his reign as manager.

Fulham equalised through Josh King, but Morgan Rogers restored Chelsea’s lead on his debut. Cole Palmer extended the advantage shortly after half-time before another debutant, Gonzalo Garcia, pulled one back for Fulham in the 54th minute. The hosts pressed for an equaliser but Chelsea held on.

There was a further flashpoint when Enzo Fernandez came off the bench, with Fulham supporters loudly jeering the Argentina international — a reaction stemming from his involvement in a controversial celebration following Argentina’s Copa America victory over England.

Alonso acknowledged the emotional demands of the occasion in his post-match comments. “To manage in difficult moments, not to lose this emotional control — we know the Premier League is fantastic because sometimes the games are out of your hands,” he said. “The players on the pitch need to know how to manage it — it’s as important as the tactics being right. It’s a process but today we went through good moments on that and we need to carry on that.”