A Ligue 1 soccer encounter on Sunday between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon faced a brief suspension due to homophobic chants from PSG supporters.
The referee, Benoît Bastien, halted the game in the 53rd minute at Parc des Princes, where PSG was leading 2-1 when the chants were detectable.
PSG’s captain, Achraf Hakimi, made his way to the fans in the Auteuil stand, urging them to cease their chants.
Following this, a warning was displayed on the large screens in the stadium, reminding attendees that discriminatory speech is prohibited.
The message conveyed the seriousness of the situation: “The match could be stopped or even lost for the club.”
After a brief pause, the match continued.

This incident is part of a troubling pattern in French soccer, where authorities have consistently struggled to address such behavior.
Earlier this year, France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau proposed that matches be stopped whenever fans engage in homophobic chanting.
In light of these persistent issues, a French advocacy group earlier this month urged action against homophobic chants, bringing attention to a match where Marseille fans shouted anti-gay slurs without facing repercussions.
Homophobic remarks have often been overlooked by club officials, highlighting a larger challenge for soccer authorities in effectively combating this form of discrimination.

The issue has been acknowledged for several years; in 2019, following a PSG match against Marseille where homophobic insults were prevalent, the league created a plan allowing fans to report incidents of sexism, racism, or homophobia.
However, these efforts have not completely halted the abuse, which has reportedly intensified recently.
Clubs in France have faced penalties, including financial fines, and the league’s disciplinary committee has previously ordered the closure of stadium sections due to similar incidents.
Moreover, French law stipulates potential imprisonment of up to one year and fines of up to 45,000 euros (around $47,600) for public anti-gay remarks.

Last season, several PSG players received a one-match suspended sentence from the league for using offensive language against Marseille after a game.
The players involved—Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Randal Kolo Muani, and Layvin Kurzawa—were recorded using derogatory terms while celebrating their team’s 4-0 victory.
Following the incident, all four players offered their apologies.
That match was also overshadowed by homophobic chanting directed at Marseille players from segments of the PSG fan base.