Rouge Groupe sees red over Marseilles fans’ homophobic chanting

December 4 – A French campaign group has renewed calls for authorities to take action against homophobic chanting by fans, singling out Marseille supporters for belting out anti-gay slurs “with complete impunity” during a home game against Monaco on Sunday.

The Rouge Direct group posted video on social networks showing Marseille supporters shouting insulting chants,  the latest of in a long series of similar incidents in French football.

The game was not halted even though France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau suggested earlier this year that matches should be stopped whenever fans chant homophobic slurs in stadiums.

The Rouge Direct group urged broadcaster DAZN to remove the replay of the game from its platform.

Marseille won 2-1 thanks to a late penalty which lifted them over their southern rivals into second place in the standings.

Homophobic insults at Ligue 1 matches have prompted authorities to try and find appropriate ways of tackling the issue.

Following a match at the Parc des Princes years ago between Paris St Germain 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. The abuse has not stopped, though, even intensifying in recent months.

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