PSG fans’ ‘unacceptable’ homophobic chants spark league investigation

Supporters target Marseille and Adrien RabiotStadium announcer twice asked for chants to stopThe French league has condemned homophobic chants by some Paris Saint-Germain fans during the club’s home win against Strasbourg on Saturday.PSG are playing their bitter rivals next Sunday in Marseille and the offensive slurs were made about the club and the midfielder Adrien Rabiot. He is a former PSG player who made more than 200 appearances for the club from 2012-19, and his move to Marseille is regarded as a betrayal. Continue reading...

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The French league has condemned homophobic chants by some Paris Saint-Germain fans during the club’s home win against Strasbourg on Saturday. PSG are playing their bitter rivals next Sunday in Marseille and the offensive slurs were made about the club and the midfielder Adrien Rabiot. He is a former PSG player who made more than 200 appearances for the club from 2012-19, and his move to Marseille is regarded as a betrayal.

“These latest discriminatory chants made by Paris Saint-Germain supporters are unacceptable when, at the same time, the whole of professional football has been working to ban homophobic behaviour and chants from stadiums,” the league, known as LFP, said in a statement. While the chanting was happening, the stadium announcer at Parc des Princes twice asked for the chants to stop and was jeered. The LFP said its disciplinary committee would look into evidence.



Last season, some PSG players received a one-match suspended sentence by the league’s disciplinary committee for offensive chants aimed at Marseille after a home league match. Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Randal Kolo Muani and Layvin Kurzawa were filmed using insults while celebrating at the end of a 4-0 win against Marseille. The four players issued apologies.

That match was also marred by homophobic chanting by sections of PSG fans targeting Marseille players. As a result, the league ordered the closure of the Auteuil stand behind one of the goals for two matches, including one that was suspended. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion PSG fans are banned from attending next Sunday’s game for security reasons, with a history of clashes between rival supporters.

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