The French Football League (LFP) has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to partially close one of the stands at their home stadium next month as punishment for homophobic chanting by their fans.
The Auteuil stand at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris will be partially closed for one match to punish fans over homophobic chants during a recent match against Strasbourg.
The sanction takes effect from 5 November, so the stand will be fully open for PSG's match against Lens this Saturday, but remain shut when PSG hosts Toulouse on 22 November.
On 19 October, the team's so-called "Ultras" fans chanted homophobic slogans for around 10 minutes during a match against Strasbourg.
The slogans were taken up by a large part of the crowd at Parc des Princes. The stadium announcer intervened twice to stop them, to no avail.
PSG fans face scrutiny after alleged homophobic chants during Strasbourg clash
Ringleaders identified
Five days after the match, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that two ringleaders who initiated the chant had been identified. No arrests have been made, however.
Following the chants, PSG “reaffirmed its commitment against all forms of discrimination, including homophobia”, adding that it was taking “all necessary measures, before and during matches, to ensure that the Parc des Princes remains an inclusive venue for all”.
Last week, a meeting dedicated to tackling homophobia was held at the Ministry of the Interior with the French football authorities and Sports Minister Gil Avérous.
France vows 'firm response' to homophobic chants at football match
It was pointed out that in the event of homophobic chanting, a match should be stopped, as set out in a Fifa circular dating back to the 2019-20 season.
But this measure was criticised by Retailleau, who favoured a “temporary interruption”.
“If there are homophobic chants,” he said, ”the sporting movement must take its responsibilities, there must be a temporary interruption. Stopping matches is very complicated, it's not the right solution.”
In 2023, the LFP's Disciplinary Committee also sanctioned PSG for similar offences by closing the tribune completely for one match and one match suspended.
