Bruno Retailleau or Gil Avérous. The two ministers contradicted themselves this Thursday evening when discussing the sanctions to be taken in the event of repeated homophobic chants in Ligue 1 stadiums. While the Minister of Sports had explained on BFMTV that it was necessary to “stop” the matches and giving “the match lost to the home team”, the Minister of the Interior immediately contradicted this on RMC, causing incomprehension.
“Stopping matches is very complicated, it is not the right solution. But we need a temporary interruption,” declared Bruno Retailleau, believing that it was “up to the sports movement to take responsibility” for stopping matches if homophobic chants continued. Gil Avérous had recommended stopping the OM/PSG meeting next Sunday in the event of problems (homophobia, racism, violence, etc.), asking the French football authorities to strictly apply the Fifa protocol which provides for a gradation ranging from the suspension of the match to the match being declared lost by the receiving team.
“I want to have a rant”
Bruno Retailleau was speaking after a meeting at his ministry with French football officials and the national supporters’ association in which Mr. Avérous also participated. She was summoned after homophobic chants heard at the Parc des Princes last Saturday and violence between supporters in Montpellier on Sunday.
“I want to make a rant,” the minister said on RMC, promising “surgical strikes” against the leaders. He further stated that he would “place police officers in civilian clothes regularly in the stadiums to individually identify troublemakers”. When it was pointed out to him that it would be complicated for the police not to be unmasked, he replied: “You won’t see them. I’m not going to tell you where they will be.” He spoke of the use of technology, “algorithmic cameras”.
