Geneva (AFP)
Stopping matches for homophobic songs or banners in the stands, should be used sparingly or "it will be a toy used" by supporters, said Tuesday the President of Olympique Lyonnais Jean-Michel Aulas.
The stopping of matches should be used in moderation "because otherwise it will be a toy used by groups of supporters who regardless of the identity of their clubs want to enforce a certain number of rules or rights that pass over the identity of their own club, "Aulas told AFP on the sidelines of the general meeting of the European Club Association (ECA) in Geneva.
On Tuesday, the president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët said he asked the referees not to stop the matches for homophobic songs or banners in the stands.
"Christmas (Graët) wanted to show that our supporters are also citizens like everyone else and when we take a number of decisions that concern exclusively the stadiums, it's probably a bit too constraining for the organization of football" added Aulas.
As an organizer, "we are faced with squaring the circle: to make sure that there are no incredible excesses to manage but also to enforce a certain number of freedoms, we will say a certain number of popular traditions that are found in the stadiums, "he said.
"Globally, we manage to protect ourselves from very serious excesses: when excesses, especially racism, go beyond a certain number of rules, we have always found solutions to punish", the president of OL added. , stating that it is "always difficult to let nothing pass".
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