The French football league (LFP) has strongly condemned the homophobic chants directed at Marseille and their midfielder Adrien Rabiot by a section of Paris Saint-Germain supporters during PSG’s home victory against Strasbourg on Saturday. The incident mars the buildup to next Sunday’s high-stakes clash between the bitter rivals.
According to close sources, the offensive slurs were audible throughout the match at Parc des Princes, despite the stadium announcer twice requesting the chants to cease. The announcer’s pleas were met with jeers from the crowd, underlining the toxic atmosphere.
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.
French league (LFP) statement
The LFP announced that its disciplinary committee would thoroughly examine the evidence and determine appropriate sanctions. This isn’t the first time PSG fans have landed in hot water for homophobic behavior.
Prior Incidents and Punishments
Last season, several PSG players received a one-match suspended sentence from the league’s disciplinary committee for participating in offensive chants aimed at Marseille following a 4-0 home win. The players, including stars like Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi, issued public apologies after video footage emerged of them using insulting language while celebrating in the locker room.
That particular match was also tarnished by homophobic chanting from PSG fans targeting Marseille players. Consequently, the league mandated the closure of the Auteuil stand behind one of the goals for two matches, with one match suspended.
Security Measures for Upcoming Clash
Looking ahead to next Sunday’s potentially explosive encounter, PSG supporters have already been barred from attending the away match in Marseille due to security concerns. The two fan bases have a long history of violent clashes, prompting authorities to take preemptive action.
It remains to be seen how the league will handle this latest incident and whether PSG will face further sanctions for the actions of their supporters. The club has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.
Napoli Scrape Past Empoli in Serie A
Meanwhile, in Italy, Serie A pacesetters Napoli had to dig deep to secure a narrow 1-0 victory away to Empoli on Sunday. A second-half penalty from star forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia proved the difference in a hard-fought encounter.
Napoli manager Antonio Conte admitted his side struggled in the first half and was relieved to come away with all three points. “In the first half we were spectators, I didn’t see what we had prepared and I saw a lot of nervousness,” Conte told reporters post-match.
Certainly, what satisfies me is to have seen a reaction in the second half, the first was very negative. This is a difficult place to come, I don’t know if it was due to the fact of defending the top spot, but it makes me smile if I think about last year or how we started this season.
Napoli manager Antonio Conte
The hard-earned win keeps Napoli at the Serie A summit as they look to capture their first Scudetto since 1990. However, challengers such as defending champions AC Milan and rejuvenated Internazionale remain hot on their heels.
Key Takeaways
- French league launches investigation into homophobic chants by PSG fans
- Incident occurred during PSG’s home win vs Strasbourg
- Chants targeted bitter rivals Marseille and midfielder Adrien Rabiot
- PSG have history of homophobic fan behavior and prior punishments
- Security measures in place for upcoming PSG vs Marseille clash
- Napoli edge Empoli 1-0 thanks to Kvaratskhelia penalty
- Manager Conte relieved after poor first-half display
- Win keeps Napoli top of Serie A as title race heats up
As European football grapples with the lingering specter of discriminatory fan behavior, authorities face increasing pressure to take decisive action. The coming weeks will reveal how the French league chooses to handle PSG’s latest transgression and whether the club will take meaningful steps to address the issue internally.
Serie A observers will be eager to see if Napoli can maintain their slender advantage at the top and finally end their long wait for domestic glory. The Partenopei have flattered to deceive in recent years but appear to have found a renewed resolve under Conte’s stewardship.
With many twists and turns still to come, one thing remains certain – the beautiful game is never far from ugly controversy, both on and off the pitch.
