Leeds United to ask fans to change the lyrics of chant created for Italian forward Wilfried Gnonto o

Publish date: 2024-03-14

Leeds United will urge fans to change the words of their chant for Italian forward Wilfried Gnonto due to racial stereotyping.

The 19-year-old scored his first goal for the club in Wednesday's 2-2 draw against West Ham, which prompted the chant from sections of the Elland Road crowd which referenced the size of his penis.

According to the Daily Mail, changing the chant will be on the club's agenda when they meet with the Supporters Advisory Board next week.

The lyrics in question are sang to the tune of La Bamba and go: “Willy Gnonto, Willy Gnonto, he eats spaghetti, he drinks Moretti, his c***’s f******* massive.”

It’s not the first time Leeds fans have used the chant. It was first heard during the club’s 4-3 win over Bournemouth in November.

Following the game, Leeds changed the last line of the song to ‘he plays for United’ on their social media channels in the hope of persuading fans to change the words.

But the hopes were dashed when the original line was blurted out during Wednesday’s night’s clash with the Hammers.

In a statement anti-discrimination group Kick it Out said: “While we believe the majority of fans singing this chant are not doing so with racist intent, we would stress that racial stereotypes are harmful and offensive, irrespective of the intention to show support for a player.

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“We urge fans to show support with family-friendly language. We will be working closely with Leeds to ensure action is taken.”

But Leeds aren’t the only club whose fans chant about a player’s privates as Leicester City use their song about defender Caglar Soyuncu to pay homage to the size of his manhood.

Sunderland’s on-loan winger Amad Diallo asked fans to change the lyrics in a song directed at him which included the words: “He has the biggest d*** in the Championship.”

Manchester United fans created a similar chant for former striker Romelu Lukaku in 2017 which was labelled offensive.

Responding to the song the Belgian said: “Fans have meant well with their songs but let’s move on together.”

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