Parisian Ultras vs. Decency: A Tale as Old as Time
Ah, the beautiful game! A place where raw passion melds with the art of rivalry, stake your bets on the dramatic, and sometimes, just sometimes, a dose of utter idiocy. This past Saturday, the Parisian supporters at the Parc des Princes gave us yet another reminder that, when it comes to football, some traditions die hard. And by traditions, I mean the delightful habit of spouting homophobic chants towards rivals, a custom they’d like to keep alive.
Picture the scene: PSG versus Strasbourg, with the home team emerging victorious 4-2, and the atmosphere buzzing with excitement—until the Parisian Ultras decide it’s the perfect time to serenade us all with their less-than-charming repertoire. It’s almost endearing, really. Like a dog returning to its own vomit. Luis Enrique, the PSG manager, allegedly missed the festivities while he was either busy strategizing or maybe blissfully tuning into the sound of… well, sanity.
Now, a quick side note! “The Marseillais are fags…” echoes across the stands. It’s especially impressive given that their previous shenanigans earned them a slap on the wrist from the disciplinary committee just weeks earlier. Remember, folks, the last time these Ultras sang a similar tune, they were punished with the closure of the Auteuil stand. Ah, consequences—always the buzzkill at a football match!
But let’s dissect this for just a moment. Chants like these? They’re often waved away with a dismissive hand. “It’s just football banter!” they say. Right! Because homophobia is best served with a side of mustard during half-time, isn’t it? With the upcoming clash against Marseille looming on October 27, one begins to wonder: can the Parisian Ultras rein in their creativity and perhaps try a more original approach? Maybe something not rooted in outdated prejudices? Just a thought.
But then again, consistency is key, and let’s be real, sporting rivalries often attract the kind of overly excited individuals who wouldn’t know what a civil conversation sounds like. The best part? Kang-in Lee’s last-minute goal finally put a hush over the crowd—God forbid it be a player’s action that makes the fans stop their chant rather than any semblance of respect!
Imagine being a player like Ousmane Dembélé or Achraf Hakimi—caught between celebrating a goal and grappling with the ignoble chants of your own supporters. The last time I checked, not even Jimmy Carr could spin that kind of awkwardness into a punchline. This isn’t a sitcom, after all! Can we get a round of applause for the PSG management then, who’ve so far opted to tap dance around the issue rather than tackle it head-on? Bravo, gentlemen!
In all seriousness, homophobia is a persistent issue, not merely a punchline or a sorry excuse for “passion”. The fact that such chants can reappear in stadiums serves as a reminder that there’s a long road ahead for the sport, and for society. So, here’s hoping for a bit of growth, empathy, and perhaps a complete kick in the teeth to prejudice before we hear those oh-so-charming chants again!
Parisian supporters distinguished themselves by chants of a homophobic nature towards their Marseille rivals, Saturday, at the Parc des Princes, during PSG-Strasbourg (4-2).
“I don’t know”. Luis Enrique is the only one not to have heard the homophobic chants which punctuated the end of the match on Saturday at the Parc des Princes. As often, always in fact, with the approach of a Classic against OM, the Parisian supporters had a little thought for their best enemies Marseille on Saturday, at the end of the Parisian victory over Strasbourg (4-2) , during the eighth day of Ligue 1. OM-PSG, it will be October 27, at the Vélodrome. So far, nothing very surprising. Except that the Parisian fans once again sang homophone songs to shout their hatred of OM. “The Marseillais are fags…”they continued in unison for many minutes. And this despite several injunctions from the Park speaker. Injunctions remained without effect. It was only Kang-in Lee’s goal, in the final minutes of the game, to – briefly – put an end to these chants.
As a reminder, the Parisian Ultras had already been sanctioned for the same chants, heard during the PSG-OM on September 24, 2023. The disciplinary committee had decreed the closure of the Auteuil stand for one final match and one suspended match. At the time, four Paris Saint-Germain players were also caught by the patrol, receiving a suspended match suspension for having accompanied these homophobic chants with the supporters, at the foot of the stand, Ousmane Dembélé, Randal Kolo Muani, Achraf Hakimi and Laywin Kurzawa. This time, only the CUP will be targeted.
