French football chiefs were on Monday investigating allegations of homophobic chanting during Paris Saint-Germain's match against Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes.
Teenager Senny Mayulu scored his first Ligue 1 goal for the senior team as PSG won 4-2 to go top with 20 points after eight games.
But the match was punctuated during the second-half by abuse aimed at rivals Marseille – who PSG play next weekend – and the former PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot who joined Marseille in September.
Despite repeated pleas over the public address system for the chanting to stop, a section of PSG fans continued and jeered the requests.
“These latest discriminatory chants made by Paris Saint-Germain supporters are unacceptable when, at the same time, the whole of professional soccer has been working to ban homophobic behaviour and chants from stadiums,” said Ligue 1 organisers, the Ligue de Football Professionnel.
PSG, who play PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes, condemned the abuse.
"Paris Saint-Germain reaffirms its firm commitment against all forms of discrimination, including homophobia," said a club statement.
"The club takes all necessary measures, before and during matches, to ensure that the Parc des Princes remains an inclusive place for all. We are actively working to ban discriminatory behaviour and promote a respectful environment, where every fan can enjoy soccer in complete safety."
Behaviour
Last season, four PSG players received a one-match suspended sentence from the LFP'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 singing insults during celebrations at the end of a 4-0 victory over 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 LFP ordered the closure of a stand behind one of the goals at the Parc des Princes for two matches, including one that was suspended.
The French government on Monday also condemned the incident and promised tough action to stamp out the abuse.
Sports minister, Gil Avérous, convened a meeting with LFP supremos next week to discuss measures to prevent reoccurrences. PSG fans have also been banned from travelling to Sunday's match in Marseille.
Othman Nasrou, the minister in charge of reducing discrimination, told BFMTV: "This kind of homophobic chanting is completely unacceptable.
"It is outrageous that these kind of things can be heard in our country in football stadiums.
"Homophobia does not have a place in football stadiums just like it has no place in wider society. We will be uncompromising in the fight," Nasrou added.
Ban
On Sunday night, Rabiot was one of the stars in Marseille's 5-0 waltz at Montpellier to set up an intriguing tie next Sunday night against PSG at the Vélodrome.
Victory for Marseille in front of their faithful would take them level on points with PSG and emphasise their title credentials under new boss Roberto de Zerbi.
The enmity between the clubs has been one of the most intriguing in French soccer since the 1990s, when Marseille was enjoying its heyday and PSG started to become more ambitious with the backing of the French TV broadcaster Canal Plus.
However, since 2011, the rivalry has melted into mythology. PSG, bankrolled by wealthy Qatari investors, has won the Ligue 1 title 10 times in 12 seasons to become the most successful French club domestically with 12 league titles — two more than Marseille and Saint-Etienne.
Although Marseille has not secured the top flight crown since 2010, its fans still claim bragging rights over their PSG counterparts as the only French outfit to win the Champions League, European club football's most prestigious trophy.
Thomas Tuchel steered PSG to the 2020 Champions League final but his side lost to Bayern Munich.
