EDITORIAL
While the match Nice-Marseille was interrupted ten minutes Wednesday following the deployment of a homophobic banner, the Football League announces the organization on September 5, a meeting around the fight against homophobia in the stages. Necessary, but not necessarily enough, for our editorialist Virginie Phulpin.
"First of all, I want to be happy and finally, we take the problem in the right direction, the anti-homophobia associations and the supporters' associations will meet, talk to each other, debate. We should have started, and the president of the League recognizes that there has not been enough consultation, to say the least.
The Minister of Sports has made the fight against homophobia in stadiums almost a national cause. And she's right, it's a real problem in football, so let's face it. But the way he has been treated since the beginning of the season, with the interruptions of the match without clear instructions or prior dialogue, is clearly not the right one. We have never seen so many homophobic banners as we have been trying to fight. There is a kind of unhealthy little game going on, groups of fans spending their week thinking about what insulting formula they will use to make "stronger" than others. So if we can start on a healthy basis, I applaud, yes.
Establish clear rules
I hope this is not just a comedy from the league. Look, we organized a meeting, and then the players will wear a rainbow armband, we act. No, it's a real work of substance to change mentalities, it will take time. Supporters must be able to express themselves, but they must also realize that their words can hurt, even if there is not always a homophobic intent. And from the moment the dialogue is opened, do we apply the same policy of interruptions of matches? All this remains very vague. It is recognized in the League, referees and club leaders are a bit groping because they have not really had a way forward.
Integrate players in the fight against homophobia
Homophobia in football is not just a fan problem. You know a lot of you, players who have come out for example? No. So maybe players in the game should also be involved in this fight against homophobia. When Antoine Griezmann made the front page of the gay magazine Stubborn , he participated in the evolution of mentalities. But it was a personal initiative. Now we will have to coordinate initiatives and find out what role players can have in this folder. Without the football players, I'm afraid we can not do it. "