Chelsea’s LGBT supporters group is calling for the co-chair of the club’s supporters trust to stand down after a series of homophobic messages, which can today be exclusively revealed by The Athletic.



The Chelsea Pride fan group has told the club that it has no confidence in newly-elected Supporters Trust co-chair David Johnstone to fairly represent their LGBT members as the club’s recognised fan spokesperson.



In leaked messages between Johnstone and other Supporters Trust board members, he says he is “1000% against promoting gay rights”, and that LGBT relationships are neither “the norm” nor “natural”.



The messages come from a discussion last November about displaying a Chelsea Pride banner at Stamford Bridge, showing solidarity with the club’s LGBT supporters as part of Rainbow Laces Week, the English game’s annual display of LGBT pride.



Rainbow Laces is promoted by LGBT equality...