September 26 – The French government has vowed to punish Paris St Germain fans who chanted homophobic slurs at the biggest domestic game in the country.
The chants by sections of the PSG support targeting Marseille players once again marred the high-profile fixture, prompting calls for sanctions.
During Sunday’s game, groups of fans chanted insults such as ‘Marseille are faggots’ and ‘we will hang them by the balls, but sadly they don’t have any’.
Olivier Klein, the inter-ministerial delegate for the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and anti-LGBTQ+ hatred (Dilcrah), commented on social media: “Very shocked by the unbearable homophobic chants heard at the Parc des Princes.”
He added that he will ask PSG and the French league authorities to bring in sanctions, and will look at the possibility of starting judicial action.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said the disciplinary committee of the French federation will look into the case and urged PSG to file a legal complaint in a bid to “identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice, so that they can be removed from the stadiums.”
“It is unthinkable to remain deaf to such hateful and homophobic chants in our stands,” she said.
“Regardless of the rivalry and the stakes involved, they must be fought relentlessly by fans, those involved in the competition, the authorities and the public authorities. Yesterday, these chants spoiled the party at the Parc. We need to eradicate it from our stadiums as a matter of urgency.”
Following another controversial clash at the Parc des Princes four years ago between the two bitter rivals, the French league launched an action plan allowing spectators to report sexist, homophobic or racist incidents. The abuse has not stopped however.
PSG, who won Sunday’s game 4-0, said in a statement it condemns all forms of discrimination and “intends to further strengthen its preventive work in the fight against homophobia.”
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