PSG Match Halted Due to Fan Chants

During the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lyon, play was briefly halted in the 53rd minute due to homophobic chanting from PSG fans. Referee Benoît Bastien intervened while PSG was leading 2-1, and captain Achraf Hakimi addressed the fans to request an end to the offensive behavior. A message displayed in the stadium reminded fans that discriminatory chants are prohibited, warning that the match could be stopped or forfeited. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about homophobic chants in French soccer, which have been largely tolerated by officials. Calls for stricter action against such behavior have intensified, with France's Interior Minister suggesting matches should be halted for such chants. Despite previous efforts to combat this issue, including the launch of a reporting action plan in 2019, the problem persists, with clubs facing fines and sanctions.