Police have launched an appeal for footage and witnesses after a referee was subject to homophobic abuse allegedly from Millwall fans at the Den last week.

Millwall's 2-0 win against Reading last Saturday (January 18) was marred by allegations of homophobic chanting or comments, and the game was stopped during the first half by referee Keith Stroud after his assistant alerted him to chants from sections of home fans.

An announcement was made over the stadium's PA system at half time, and after the game Millwall confirmed that a "comprehensive investigation into the alleged incident is well underway."

Met Police say the homophobic chanting took place around 3:30pm in the East Stand of the Den, believed to be home fans, and anyone who witnessed the incident or can provide detectives with video footage is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or the Public Order Crime Team on 020 8246 9386.

“We take any allegation of abuse very seriously and are investigating this matter. If anyone was at last Saturday’s game and witnessed the incident, or has video footage of it, I would urge them to come forward to assist us in our investigation.”

DC Phil Dickinson from the Met’s Public Order Crime Team, said: “We take any allegation of abuse very seriously and are investigating this matter. If anyone was at last Saturday’s game and witnessed the incident, or has video footage of it, I would urge them to come forward to assist us in our investigation.”

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Millwall FC were fined £10,000 last year for racist chanting during an FA Cup game against Everton.

The club were ordered to "implement an action plan" after an investigation found it had "failed to use all due diligence" to ensure the club's supporters refrained from using racist language.

After Saturday's game, Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio 5 Live: "As always, the club will do a thorough job."

"I don't know what comment was made or indeed what was alleged.

"I don't necessarily think it was a chant, I think the linesman's heard a comment. There can be lots of comments in a game like that.

"The linesman, with what he's suggested the comment was, has to report it to the referee, who then in turn has to report it to the side of the pitch."

In a club statement, Millwall confirmed that match officials had reported an alleged incident of homophobic abuse, and the club carried out step one of the advised protocol by making a tannoy announcement to the crows as quickly as possible.

"Millwall Football Club has a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination of any kind. Any individual found guilty of such abuse at The Den is issued with an immediate lifetime ban," the statement read.