Marseille have strongly condemned the “personal attacks” directed at midfielder Adrien Rabiot and his family during their 3-1 defeat to Paris St-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
The match was marred by homophobic and racist chants from sections of the PSG fanbase, along with banners targeting Rabiot and his relatives.
Rabiot, who joined Marseille last summer after a stint with Juventus, alleged that PSG supporters insulted his late father, who passed away in 2019.
His mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, has since lodged a formal complaint over the abuse. Marseille have backed the complaint and vowed to take a firm stance against such behavior.
“The personal attacks, particularly targeting Adrien Rabiot and his family, are despicable and unacceptable,” Marseille said in an official statement.
“The club, which wishes to offer its full support and solidarity to its midfielder and his loved ones, announces that it joins the complaint filed against unknown persons by Adrien Rabiot’s family.”
The club further reiterated its commitment to fighting against all forms of abuse in football. “We will continue to be uncompromising and inflexible against any insulting remarks against the club, its management, its employees, or its supporters,” the statement added.
Lack of Action from Match Officials
Despite the nature of the abuse, referee Clement Turpin did not stop the game, raising questions about the enforcement of rules designed to combat discrimination in French football.
According to current regulations, referees in France have the authority to halt matches if homophobic or racist chants occur, but on this occasion, the game proceeded uninterrupted.
Rabiot’s mother, Veronique, voiced her frustration in an interview with Radio France. “I don’t understand why the match wasn’t stopped,” she said. “I don’t understand why nobody is outraged. Why are some matches stopped and not others?”
Her concerns have sparked further debate over the inconsistency in dealing with discriminatory behavior in football stadiums. The French football federation and Ligue 1 officials are now under pressure to explain the lack of intervention during Sunday’s fixture.
A Tense History Between Rabiot and PSG
Born in Paris, Rabiot spent seven years at PSG, making 227 appearances for the club between 2012 and 2019 before departing for Juventus. His return to French football with Marseille, PSG’s arch-rivals, has been met with hostility from sections of the Parisian fanbase.
While hostility between the two clubs’ supporters is nothing new, the severity of the abuse directed at Rabiot and his family has drawn widespread condemnation. Marseille’s decision to support Rabiot’s legal action marks a significant stand against toxic fan culture in Ligue 1.
French authorities and football governing bodies are expected to investigate the incident, with potential sanctions looming for PSG if their supporters are found guilty of violating anti-discrimination regulations.
As the fallout from the match continues, calls for stricter measures to curb offensive behavior in stadiums grow louder, with many urging authorities to take decisive action to ensure that football remains a safe and inclusive sport for all.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
