Homophobic screaming was directed towards Palace’s on-loan Chelsea midfielder Gallagher; a bottle was hurled at Michael Olise from a Millwall supporter; a flare was thrown onto the pitch, momentarily stopping play; and Palace players were booed for kneeling before the game.
In the FA Cup triumph over Millwall at The Den, Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise was struck by a bottle, while homophobic taunts were aimed at teammate Conor Gallagher.
Palace’s 2-1 FA Cup third-round win over Millwall was overshadowed by unsavory scenes, with Olise being hit by a bottle thrown by the crowd in the second half and Gallagher receiving chants throughout the game.
Palace fans let off firecrackers after a flare was thrown into the pitch from the Crystal Palace end.
Palace’s players were booed by some spectators before the game when they took a knee before the south London derby.
Millwall have issued a statement announcing that an investigation will be launched following the match.
“Millwall Football Club has a zero-tolerance policy for all types of discrimination and will thoroughly investigate any allegation of mistreatment. Any anyone found guilty of discriminatory abuse receives an instant lifetime ban, as is club policy “a representative for the club said
The incidents were criticized by both Millwall manager Gary Rowett and Palace manager Patrick Vieira.
“I don’t think either club wants to witness any of those moments off the pitch,” Rowett added, “but I am confident both will deal with them appropriately.”
“As a football club, we are against any type of discrimination, and this is not something we want to see on the field,” Vieira stated.
Gallagher has been the target of homophobic chants on several occasions. Leeds United fans were chastised after chanting the same insulting song at Gallagher during their 1-0 Premier League victory over Palace on November 30.
Edleen John, the FA’s Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Director, told Sky Sports News in August that the rent boy slur is being phased out of the game and that it should be treated as racial abuse.
After Benik Afobe punished a blunder by Jack Butland to give Millwall a first-half lead, Palace advanced to the FA Cup third round with goals from Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
