A quartet from French soccer champions Paris Saint-Germain led by ex-Frankfurt player Randal Kolo Muani got off lightly in the trial over homophobic chants about opposing players.
The goalscorer, former Dortmund players Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi as well as Layvin Kurzawa were suspended for one game by the disciplinary committee of the French league association LFP because of their mocking songs after the duel with Olympique Marseille (4-0).
PSG has to close a stand from which fans also made homophobic insults to the OM players for a match. The ban on entry to this area of the Prinzenparkstadion for a second game has been suspended.
The punished players had already apologized for their misconduct several days before their hearing at the LFP headquarters. “We seriously regret the words we never should have said. We allowed ourselves to be seduced by the euphoria. We are aware of the impact of our actions and we will do everything in the future to live up to our commitment as role models,” the four professionals explained in unanimous statements on their personal channels on social networks.
Shortly after the incidents in Paris, members of the French government also called for consequences against abusive PSG fans. Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera demanded that the club “file a lawsuit to identify the perpetrators and bring them to court to have them removed from the stadiums.” It is “unthinkable that we turn a deaf ear to such hateful and homophobic chants in our stands,” the politician continued.
In France, homophobic chants are more common in stadiums. Last season, some professionals also refused to wear a jersey with a rainbow print to mark the day against homophobia.