The chief executive of Luton Town FC has urged fans to stop chanting the name of far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

A small number of supporters of the League One side chanted about the Luton-born former EDL leader at their last two away fixtures.

Luton's chief executive, Gary Sweet, put out a statement saying the behaviour was "hugely disappointing".

He said their away game at West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday night was "blemished, for the second away game running, by hearing the chanting the name of a political figurehead by a small number of Hatters supporters".

Image: A small number of fans were involved in the chanting at West Brom, says Luton's CEO

"This is hugely disappointing for us, as a board, because the individual in question wasn't playing or involved in the squad or staff," said Mr Sweet.


He said the club "absolutely accept and respect the fact that everybody holds their own independent opinions and values, but we politely ask for you to temporarily overlook those views for a couple of hours or so when attending Luton Town matches in future."

He added that any sort of prejudice "can and should be left for another day" and that embracing difference was "characteristic of 'being Lutonian'."

Robinson founded the English Defence League in 2009 and become well-known for his protests against what he calls the "Islamisation of our countries".

He was released from prison at the start of August after winning an appeal against a contempt of court ruling.

Tommy Robinson release: 'Media lost trust of public'

However, he could still face jail, with judges saying a fresh hearing should take place "as soon as reasonably possible".

Anti-Islam figures around the world, who rallied behind Robinson as a supposed freedom of speech "martyr", celebrated the overturning of his sentence.

Donald Trump's former chief strategist, Steven Bannon, was one of those who had called for Robinson's release.

He was detained in May for allegedly broadcasting on Facebook details of an ongoing trial subject to blanket reporting restrictions.

Robinson claimed there was an attempt to "mentally destroy" him during his jail sentence.