Ligue 1: an investigation opened after homophobic banners in Montpellier

Europe 1 with AFP 4:23 p.m., January 16, 2023

An investigation was opened on Monday by the Montpellier prosecutor's office the day after homophobic banners brandished by ultras from the city's football club during a Ligue 1 match, messages denounced in particular by the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa -Castera.

This investigation was opened for "public insults on the grounds of sexual orientation", "introduction, possession and use of rockets or fireworks in a sports arena" and "throwing of a projectile presenting a danger to the safety of persons", said the Montpellier prosecutor's office in a press release at midday.

The authors must be "sanctioned", advocates the Minister of Sports

In the morning, the Minister of Sports had expressed on Twitter her condemnation "the strongest of these images, of these words, of these homophobic acts which must disappear from the enclosures of football and sport".

"Their perpetrators must be identified, sanctioned and kept permanently away from the stadiums", added Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, reproducing photos taken at the Mosson stadium at the start of the meeting of the 19th day of Ligue 1 between the MHSC and FC Nantes.

Strongest condemnation of these images, these words, these homophobic acts which must disappear from the enclosures of football and sport.

Their perpetrators must be identified, punished and permanently kept away from our stadiums.

@RomeIsabelle@LFPfr#MHSCFCNpic.twitter.com/t01baWROLM

– Amélie Oudéa-Castéra (@AOC1978) January 16, 2023

The incriminated banners were deployed by the ultras of the Hérault club, who intended to protest against the catastrophic results of their team, beaten 6-1 four days earlier in Nice and close to the relegation zone.

It was written on two of them "Squad team" and "Go fuck you all...".

After this action, the Montpellier ultras deserted their stands for the first 15 minutes of the match, before returning and throwing smoke bombs on the lawn, causing the game to be interrupted.

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Incidents studied by the LFP Disciplinary Committee

All these incidents will be studied at the next meeting of the Disciplinary Committee of the Professional Football League (LFP), scheduled for Wednesday, we learned from the LFP.

In a press release, the Montpellier club, chaired by Laurent Nicollin, condemned "with the greatest firmness the homophobic remarks made on certain banners".

"This kind of talk cannot be tolerated" despite the "complicated sporting context", he added.

Scandalized by the vulgar and homophobic insults on banners deployed by pseudo-Montpellier supporters in the stands for #MHSCFCN I hope that sanctions will be taken, all sports actors must be exemplary!

pic.twitter.com/XKfaSKL52u

— Herve Martin (@HrvMartin) January 15, 2023

The MHSC specified that it intended to search for those responsible itself: “Investigations are underway and complaints will be lodged if necessary”.

At the local level, the banners were also denounced on Twitter by Hervé Martin, deputy (in charge of Sports) to the PS mayor of Montpellier Michaël Delafosse, who said he was "scandalized" by these "vulgar and homophobic insults".

"I hope that sanctions will be taken," he added.

Montpellier, which lost 3-0 to Nantes, occupies 15th place in Ligue 1 with two points ahead of Brest, the first relegation player.