logo
PSG win over Marseille marred by homophobic, racist chants. It's an ongoing problem in French soccer

PSG win over Marseille marred by homophobic, racist chants. It's an ongoing problem in French soccer

A French campaign group has called on the country's authorities to punish homophobic and racist chanting after the biggest match in the league between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille was marred by discriminatory singing.
The abuse tarnished PSG's 3-1 win over its bitter rival in what is known as 'Le Classique', and again highlighted soccer's inability to properly deal with the issue.
French referees have the power to stop play if fans chant homophobic and racist slurs in stadiums. But Sunday's match at the Parc des Princes was not paused by referee Clément Turpin — who is considered one of the best in Europe — despite repeated incidents.
The Rouge Direct group called on Monday for the ministers of sport, interior and justice, as well as officials from the French soccer federation and league, to 'ensure that these illegal chants are finally severely punished.'
The group posted footage on social media in which hardcore PSG fans can be heard chanting and shouting insults at Marseille. The lyrics of one of the songs compared their rivals to 'rats'.
'In the mud there are rats. In the sewers there are rats. Rats are everywhere. They are the Marseillais,' they sang.
The word 'rat' can be used in a racist and derogatory way in the French language and the song was widely seen as referencing Marseille's large Arab minority.
Rabiot targeted
There was also homophobic chanting from PSG fans targeting Marseille and in particular midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who returned to his former team to a hostile reception.
Paris-born Rabiot made more than 200 appearances for PSG from 2012-19 and has been one of Marseille's best players this season.
Rabiot's mother Véronique, who is also his agent, told Radio France that she will be lodging a complaint after PSG fans displayed insulting banners directed at her and her son.
'I don't understand why the match wasn't stopped,' she said, denouncing double standards. 'I don't understand why nobody is outraged. Why are some matches stopped and not others?'
The Rouge Direct group said the derogatory chanting should be tackled more seriously, especially as it was broadcast and seen by millions of TV spectators including children.
Action plan and sanctions
The discriminatory chants at the Parc des Princes were the latest in a series of similar incidents. Homophobic insults often heard at Ligue 1 matches have been tolerated for a long time by club officials.
Following a match at the Parc des Princes in 2019 between PSG and Marseille, during which home fans used homophobic insults, the league launched an action plan allowing spectators to report sexist, homophobic or racist incidents they witness.
French clubs have been sanctioned with fines, and the league's disciplinary commission also ordered the closure of stands for similar cases in recent years.
French law provides for up to one year's imprisonment and a 45,000 euros ($47,600) fine when anti-gay insults are made in public.
Earlier this season, PSG was forced to close part of the Parc des Princes as punishment for homophobic chanting by its fans. Marseille supporters were banned from attending Sunday's match. They, too, have been criticized for their repeated homophobic chanting at the Velodrome Stadium.
PSG extended its lead at the top to 19 points with eight rounds remaining.
___
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Tour de France 2025: 5 most recognized and difficult stages of the race
Tour de France 2025: 5 most recognized and difficult stages of the race

Associated Press

time2 hours ago

  • Associated Press

Tour de France 2025: 5 most recognized and difficult stages of the race

The twisty road map of the Tour de France - often described as the world's most prestigious and challenging cycling race - features a mix of flat, hilly, and mountainous stages. The race is not just a test of individual strength but also team strategy, endurance, and resilience. Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar climbs towards Hautacom to win the twelfth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 180.6 kilometers (112.2 miles) with start in Auch and finish in Hautacam, France, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The Tour de France began with the Grand Départ in Lille, a northern French city near the Belgian border. It marked the official start of the race with a festive celebration. Stage 2: This stage was the longest trek of this year's race with about 4 kilometers of climbing. It favors strong climbers and aggressive breakaway riders. The stretch from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-Sur-Mer is a marathon, not a sprint. It was the longest stretch of the race at 209.1 kilometers, or 129.93 miles. Stage 12: This stage featured several challenging climbs. Auch to Hautacam was the first mountain stage of the race, with 3,850 meters in elevation over the course, or 12,631 feet. The stage introduced the Pyrenees. Stage 16: This stage is notable for its race to the top of the famed barren mountain known as the 'Beast of Provence.' The 16th stage may seem straightforward at the start, but riders had to ascend to their highest point in elevation of the race. Mont Ventoux returned to the route after four years. Stage 21: The final stage features a cobbled climb before riders enter Paris to complete 3 laps of the iconic landmark. The final stage of the Tour de France concludes at the iconic Champs-Elysees in Paris. But before riders cross the finish line, they'll need to face the cobbled streets of Côte de la Butte Montmartre. Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, rides in the pack during the tenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 165.3 kilometers (102.7 miles) with start in Ennezat and finish in Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy, France, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The pack rides during the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 172.2 kilometers (107 miles) with start in Amiens and finish in Rouen, France, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The pack rides past a field of sunflowers during the eleventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 156.8 kilometers (97.4 miles) with start and finish in Toulouse, France, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, wearing the overall leader's yellow jersey, and Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard sprint towards the finish line of the sixteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Montpellier and finish on the Mont Ventoux, France, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) The pack rides during the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 209.1 kilometers (129.9 miles) with start in Lauwin-Planque and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Fans watch the riders during the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 184.9 kilometers (114.9 miles) with start and finish in Lille, France, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) Spectators take photos of the riders during the eleventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 156.8 kilometers (97.4 miles) with start and finish in Toulouse, France, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard crosses the finish line of the thirteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race, an individual time-trial over 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles) in the Pyrenees mountains with start in Loudenvielle and finish in Peyragudes, France, Friday, July 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar, right, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the fourth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 172.2 kilometers (107 miles) with start in Amiens and finish in Rouen, France, Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) Italy's Vincenzo Albanese rides past a field of sunflowers during the eleventh stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 156.8 kilometers (97.4 miles) with start and finish in Toulouse, France, Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy) Stage winner France's Valentin Paret Peintre leads in the breakaway with Ireland's Ben Healy, in pink, and Colombia's Santiago Buitrago, in white, in the sixteenth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 171.5 kilometers (106.6 miles) with start in Montpellier and finish on the Mont Ventoux, France, Tuesday, July 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

'Dana, call me!': Omran Chaaban ready for UFC after 46-second TKO win at UAE Warriors 61
'Dana, call me!': Omran Chaaban ready for UFC after 46-second TKO win at UAE Warriors 61

USA Today

time3 hours ago

  • USA Today

'Dana, call me!': Omran Chaaban ready for UFC after 46-second TKO win at UAE Warriors 61

ABU DHABI – Omran Chaaban is UFC ready. Chaaban (9-1) has won three-straight fights since appearing on Season 32 of "The Ultimate Fighter," needing just 46 seconds to take out Wellington Madeira (7-2) with brutal calf kicks at UAE Warriors 61 on Wednesday. As he celebrated his quick finish, Chaaban put up the phone sign, sending a message to Dana White and the UFC matchmakers. "Uncle Dana, Sean Shelby, where you guys at?," Chaaban told MMA Junkie. "Mick Maynard, call me. I'm in Abu Dhabi, I'm 24 years old, I've fought very high-level guys. I'm from Finland, we don't have any UFC fighters. I'm from Lebanon, I don't think we have any Lebanese – a couple of Lebanese fighters maybe? Or one. So yeah, you guys need someone from Finland and from Lebanon so, I'm here. I'm young, welterweight." Chaaban is back to his natural weight class after taking part in "TUF 32" as a middleweight. In his first fight, he upset current LFA champion Shamidkhan Magomedov by submitting him, but then lost a unanimous decision to the eventual season winner Ryan Loder. The 24-year-old is confident he's ready to make the UFC leap, and is even willing to fill in for a short-notice fight. "Of course I would," Chaaban said. "My aim is to become the best welterweight and even my coach believes that. So, that's what I'm looking for. I'm looking to be the best, and UFC is the best promotion in the world, we all know it. And yeah, uncle Dana, call me!" Only one Arab fighter competes on Saturday's return card to the Middle East in Abu Dhabi, when UAE's own Mohammed Yahya meets Steven Nguyen in a lightweight bout on the UFC on ABC 9 prelims. Chaaban thinks there's an opening for him to debut in the promotion's first card in Qatar on Nov. 22. "They're coming to Qatar so that's perfect for me," Chaaban said. "I'm the UAE Warriors welterweight champion, I'm Lebanese, Arab. I think there's loads of Lebanese people everywhere or Arabs – we are everywhere so, yeah, that would be great to fight in the Middle East. And they're coming to Paris as well. They're doing lots with Saudi, here (UAE), Qatar so, it fits perfectly." Chaaban left a final message to the UFC brass. "Dana White, I'm 24 years old, I'm Finnish-Lebanese, I finish people," Chaaban said. "I've finished everyone in my welterweight fights. Call me brother, call me."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store