A pre-match tribute intended to honour a club legend took an uncomfortable turn during Wrexham’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Chelsea on Saturday night.
Instead of a moment of shared respect, some travelling supporters were accused of showing a lack of awareness during the emotional display.
What did Chelsea fans do during Wrexham's Joey Jones tribute?
Home supporters at Racecourse Ground unveiled a tifo celebrating the life of Joey Jones, the former Wrexham defender who passed away last year.
However, during the tribute, some of the travelling Chelsea supporters were heard chanting “What the f***ing hell is that?” as the display was revealed.
The moment quickly drew criticism online, with many fellow Blues fans themselves calling out those involved as “embarrassing”.
Jones is remembered as one of Wrexham’s most iconic figures, but he also had connections with Chelsea earlier in his career, where he was named as the club’s Player of the Year for the 1982/83 season.
“I can only apologise for this lot,” expressed another Chelsea fan on social media, while one more added that they were “totally ashamed” by their so-called fellow supporters.
The tribute also came during the week that would have marked his 71st birthday.
FGG says: Chelsea fans right to call out their disrespectful peers
FA Cup fixtures like this one are built on passion and noise, but tributes to former players should always be treated differently.
Jones was a beloved figure at Wrexham, and even at Chelsea. As a double league and European Cup winner, he was well respected across the game, so moments designed to honour a life in football deserve silence or applause, not a disrespectful chant.
The fact that many Chelsea supporters themselves have called out the chant shows that most fans still recognise where the line should be drawn.