Paris city hall said Tuesday it is taking legal action after sections of Paris Saint-Germain fans targeted mayor Anne Hidalgo with sexist insults and homophobic chants during a French league match, amid a bitter feud over the club’s uncertain future at its home stadium.
Hidalgo, who is opposed to a sale of the stadium to the soccer club, will in addition lodge a complaint in her own name for public insults. The matter will also be referred to the French league’s disciplinary committee, Paris city hall said in a statement.
PSG fans reportedly displayed a number of banners targeting Hidalgo during PSG’s 3-1 win against Lille at the Parc des Princes.
“Without PSG, the Parc has no more Princes,” one banner read. “Hidalgo is killing Paris and its magic,” was another slogan, while chants of “Hidalgo resign!” could also be heard in addition to the insults.
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi last week confirmed plans for the French league champion to leave its home stadium after Paris city officials decided the venue was not for sale. Formed in 1970, PSG began playing at Parc des Princes two years later and benefits from a long-term lease.
The club owned by cash-rich Qatari backer QSI wanted to stay and buy the stadium but, following eight years of discussions, will have to look elsewhere after the Paris city council voted to confirm the Parc des Princes will not be sold.
In January, PSG said it had invested more than 85 million euros ($92 million) in stadium maintenance costs. At the time, PSG said it was committed to investing a further 500 million euros in renovations in order to compete with other clubs at the highest level in Europe.
As for the homophobic chants, which are often heard at French league matches and have been tolerated for a long time, Paris city hall said it “remains mobilized against all forms of discrimination.” Before the game against Lille, both sets of fans reportedly chanted anti-gay songs, leading the stadium announcer to ask them to stop.
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