Nottingham Forest bans chant criticised as misogynistic

Nottingham Forest has prohibited the chant “Nottingham Is Full of Fun” following discussions with Nottinghamshire Police, anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out and the club’s fan advisory board, BBC Sport reported. Forest said discrimination, including misogynistic chanting, would not be tolerated.

Some Forest supporters have sung the chant for years, and supporters of other clubs use similar versions. It has been criticised for using crude terms for female body parts.

Sexism at matches and supporters’ views

Kick It Out said reports of misogynistic chanting rose sharply last season and that more than 50% of female fans had experienced sexism or misogyny at matches. The charity’s Paul Obayo said such chants left some supporters feeling excluded and uneasy.

The decision has prompted debate among supporters, including questions about how offensive the chant is. Forest supporter Lisa Fox said she was “not overly offended” but found it “a bit archaic”. She said its expression of local identity and humour did not necessarily make it harmless, and suggested other chants could encourage more people to join in.

Obayo welcomed Forest’s consultation with fan groups. He said clubs could not “ban [their] way out of abuse” and called for more education and action, alongside wider recognition of the hurt caused.

What supporters could face

Forest said it wanted all supporters, including women and girls, to feel safe and respected at the City Ground, its home stadium, and when following the team away from home.

Supporters identified as engaging in discriminatory chanting may face education sessions, acceptable behaviour contracts—agreements setting out expected conduct—or club bans. Forest described these as possible responses, rather than announcing penalties already imposed on individual supporters.