January 29 – The French league has condemned yet another incident of homophobic and sexist chanting and racist banners, this time by home fans during a top-flight match between Nice and visiting Marseille last weekend.
Marseille mayor Benoît Payan asked the league to take action after posting a photo on social media of a banner held up by a group of hardcore Nice fans, reading: ‘The sun is setting on the city of Nice… let the rat hunt begin’.
The word ‘rat’ can be used in a racist and derogatory way in the French language and the banner was widely seen as referencing Marseille’s large Arab minority.
“Racist remarks cannot be tolerated in a stadium. I’m asking the LFP not to let this happen,” Payan wrote on X.
Another banner targeted Marseille striker Neal Maupay, on loan from Everton and who played for Nice for eight years. It read: ‘Maupay – you’ve gone from a son of the club to a son of a b*tch’.
The 28-year-old caused a stir in the summer when he opted to join Marseille instead of their domestic rivals. Nice were said to be keen on signing him again this season.
The match was also interrupted briefly in the first half when Nice supporters were asked to stop their homophobic chanting.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1738247309labto1738247309ofdlr1738247309owedi1738247309sni@w1738247309ahsra1738247309w.wer1738247309dna1738247309