Hull City have been fined £30,000 by the Football Association after supporters used a homophobic chant during the club’s 4-0 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea in February.

The Championship club accepted the FA charge for failing to prevent supporters from using offensive, abusive or insulting language relating to sexual orientation during the match at the MKM Stadium.

The chanting continued despite repeated warnings over the stadium’s public-address system, with messages also displayed on the stadium screens.

Three people were arrested in connection with the incident, while Hull have since banned three supporters for at least three years.

The club condemned the behaviour and described the chant as a recognised homophobic slur, warning that its use could potentially constitute a hate crime.

“Hull City condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the offensive and inappropriate language used by the supporters responsible,” the club said in a statement on Friday.

The club said discrimination of any kind was “wholly unacceptable” and would not be tolerated.

Hull also urged supporters not to repeat the chant when the club visits Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday, warning that anyone using discriminatory language could face arrest and criminal charges.