Yoann Lemaire recommended Monday on franceinfo to “individualize the sanctions” by going “really looking for those who assert their homophobia”, while the Professional Football League will examine Thursday the homophobic chants sung Sunday by Rennes supporters during a match against Nantes.
“Apart from closing a stand, there’s not much they can do”estimated Monday October 2 on franceinfo Yoann Lemaire, president of the Foot Ensemble association, which fights against homophobia in football, while the disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League (LFP) will examine Thursday October 5 the homophobic chants sung by Rennes supporters during the Ligue 1 match against Nantes on Sunday October 1, a week after the chants of Parisian ultras during PSG-OM on September 24.
“The disciplinary committee, apart from closing a stand or sanctioning players when they make homophobic comments, they cannot do much moreaffirms Yoann Lemaire. I think it’s useless, it’s useless.”
Sanctioning a club sportingly “will be counterproductive”
The Foot Ensemble association pleads for “many more awareness workshops” in order to “empowering supporters and influential people within supporter groups”. He recommends“individualize sanctions” going “really look for those who assert their homophobia, like certain capos”, these supporters who start singing in the stands. It is necessary, according to Yoann Lemaire, “explain in concrete terms what homophobia is” to the supporters “so that they are clear about that”. This is’“learning to know each other”.
According to Yoann Lemaire, sanctioning a club sportingly “will be counterproductive” and will go to “the opposite”. “There are already, for example, Lorient supporters who risk putting on the Rennes jersey to sing songs to try to make their competitors lose points.” He advocates for the implementation “a long-term project”.
“The clubs must take the problem head on with the authorities, with the Ministry of Justice, the Minister of the Interior, the Ministry of Sports, the supporters, the influential supporters groups.”
Yoann Lemaire, president of the Foot Ensemble associationon franceinfo
Foot Ensemble requests that “the clubs are more involved” and recommends, with other associations, to “multiply the meetings with the supporters, especially the most influential, which starts the chants” for’“go even further”.