A French advocacy group is urging the country’s authorities to impose sanctions on homophobic and racist chants after the league’s most significant match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Marseille was overshadowed by discriminatory fan behavior.
The unsavory incidents marred PSG’s 3-1 victory in the fiercely contested “Le Classique,” once again underscoring soccer’s ongoing struggle to effectively address such issues.
French referees possess the authority to halt games if fans engage in homophobic or racist chants. However, during Sunday’s match at the Parc des Princes, referee Clément Turpin, widely regarded as one of Europe’s top officials, opted not to pause the game despite recurrent incidents.
The advocacy group Rouge Direct appealed on Monday for the French ministers of sport, interior, and justice, along with officials from the national soccer federation and league, to take decisive action against these illegal chants.
The group shared video evidence on social media depicting hardcore PSG supporters shouting insults at Marseille fans, including a song that disparagingly likened their rivals to “rats.”
The chant’s lyrics referred disparagingly to Marseillais as “rats” in various unpleasant contexts, with the term potentially carrying racist undertones, particularly toward Marseille’s significant Arab population.
Amid the abusive chants, PSG fans also directed homophobic slurs at Marseille and specifically at midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who faced an unfriendly atmosphere on his return to his former club.
Rabiot, a native of Paris, previously made over 200 appearances for PSG between 2012 and 2019 and has been a standout player for Marseille this season.
His mother, Véronique, who also serves as his agent, stated to Radio France her intention to file a complaint following the display of derogatory banners targeting her and her son by PSG fans.
She expressed confusion about the lack of action during the match, questioning why some games are halted and others are not.
Rouge Direct emphasized the need for decisive intervention against derogatory chants, particularly as they were broadcast to a global TV audience, including children.
The incidents at the Parc des Princes are the latest in a recurring pattern of discriminatory behavior. Tolerance of homophobic slurs in Ligue 1 has persisted among club executives for a prolonged period.
In response to similar occurrences following a 2019 PSG and Marseille match, where homophobic insults were prevalent, the league initiated an action plan enabling spectators to report incidents of sexism, homophobia, or racism.
This action has led to fines against French clubs and stand closures in recent years due to similar offenses.
Under French law, public anti-gay insults may result in a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of 45,000 euros (approximately $47,600).
Earlier in the current season, PSG faced a partial closure of the Parc des Princes due to homophobic chants by its fans. Meanwhile, Marseille supporters were barred from attending Sunday’s match, facing criticism for repeated homophobic chants at the Velodrome Stadium.
With PSG extending its lead at the top to 19 points and only eight matches remaining, the debate around handling discriminatory fan behavior continues to rage.
