Nottingham Forest warn fans of bans over misogynistic chanting

Nottingham Forest have warned supporters that discriminatory chanting could lead to club bans, following discussions with police, Kick It Out and the club's fan advisory board. According to BBC News, the warning concerns the long-standing Nottingham Is Full of Fun song, which has drawn criticism for lyrics referring crudely to female body parts. Forest also said the club could face sanctions if the chanting continues.

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The club's statement set out several possible responses for supporters identified as taking part. These include education sessions, acceptable behaviour contracts and bans. Forest said its opposition to discrimination extends to misogynistic chanting and stressed that women and girls should feel respected and safe both at the City Ground and when supporting the team away. The measures were presented as potential consequences, rather than confirmation that particular supporters had already been punished.

The song is sung to the melody of When the Saints Go Marching In and has been used by some Forest supporters for years. BBC News reported that fans of other clubs have adopted similar versions. Forest's decision followed consultation with Nottinghamshire Police, the anti-discrimination charity and its supporter advisory group, bringing fan representatives into the discussions behind the warning.

Kick It Out welcomed the approach. The charity told the BBC that reports of misogynistic chanting had increased sharply last season and said more than half of female fans had experienced sexism or misogyny at matches. Its representative Paul Obayo said sexist chanting could leave supporters feeling excluded and uncomfortable. He also described record reporting levels for sexism, misogyny and sexist mass chanting in football.

Obayo argued that punishment alone would not resolve abuse and called for education alongside action. He praised Forest for consulting supporters and seeking to change attitudes before further problems arose. The charity's response therefore supported the club's intervention while emphasising work beyond bans, including greater recognition of the harm such behaviour can cause.

Supporter reactions have varied. Forest fan Lisa Fox told the BBC she was not particularly offended by the song but regarded it as outdated and suggested other chants could encourage broader participation. She also said its association with local identity and humour did not necessarily make it harmless. BBC News reported that Nottinghamshire Police had been approached for comment.