The French soccer league has strongly condemned homophobic chants directed at former Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) player Adrien Rabiot by some PSG fans during a home match against Strasbourg. This incident occurred as PSG prepared for an upcoming match against their fierce rival, Marseille, which has heightened tensions. Rabiot, who played for PSG from 2012 to 2019, is viewed by many fans as having betrayed the club following his move to Marseille.
In an official statement, the league, known as LFP, expressed that these discriminatory chants are unacceptable, especially given the ongoing efforts across professional soccer to eradicate homophobic behavior from stadiums. During the match, attempts were made by the stadium announcer at Parc des Princes to stop the chanting, but these pleas were met with jeers from the crowd.
The LFP announced that its disciplinary committee would investigate the evidence surrounding this incident. Notably, in the previous season, several PSG players faced consequences from the league’s disciplinary committee for using offensive chants aimed at Marseille, which prompted public apologies from the players involved.
The rivalry between PSG and Marseille has a long and intense history, characterized by animosity and fierce competition, especially since the 1990s. PSG, now under Qatari ownership, has become the most successful club in French football, boasting 12 league titles, outpacing Marseille and Saint-Etienne. However, despite not winning the league since 2010, Marseille holds the distinction of being the only French club to win the UEFA Champions League, a title PSG has yet to claim.
PSG’s next match in the Champions League is against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday. Meanwhile, in anticipation of the upcoming match against Marseille, PSG fans are banned from attending due to past violent clashes between rival supporters, reflecting the high stakes of this fierce rivalry.
