LGBT associations file a complaint against Amazon after homophobic chants during a PSG-OM match

Several associations announced on Wednesday November 8 that they would file a complaint in Paris against Amazon Prime, broadcaster of the Ligue 1 match between Paris SG and Olympique de Marseille at the end of September. Homophobic chants from Parisian supporters were heard there.

It was the LGBT Families association which filed the complaint on Wednesday morning, while the Mousse and Stop Homophobia associations will join the possible future procedure, according to the plaintiffs’ lawyer Etienne Deshoulières. The simple complaint, filed with the Paris judicial court, targets offenses of insults and public provocations of hatred or violence towards a group of people because of their sexual orientation.

PSG already sanctioned

According to this complaint“in the rebroadcast” by Amazon Prime “of the Paris Saint-Germain-Olympique de Marseille match, played on September 24, 2023”, “it is possible to hear several chants from supporters coming from the stands. Some of these chants are of a pronounced homophobic nature.” In these songs, Parisian supporters notably treat their Marseille rivals as “fags”, “sons of bitches”, “motherfuckers”. For these facts, PSG was sanctioned by the disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League (LFP) which ordered the closure of the Auteuil stand for one final match and one suspended match.

The plaintiffs point out that“in the event of live broadcast of content, the publication director is not responsible for the comments”, which is no longer the case when it comes to a rebroadcast. However, Amazon Prime subscribers were able to watch the PSG-OM match again on demand.

“Homophobia has no place in sport or in society and we condemn it, like all forms of discrimination, in the strongest terms”, reacted an Amazon spokesperson. The American giant stressed that the match was no longer available on Prime Video at the time of the announcement of this complaint.