‘Explicitly homophobic!’ – Ligue 1 faces fresh legal storm over abuse

Robin Bairner

25 Apr 2025 14:15 BST
2 min read

Lionel Messi, LGBT, Ligue 1, Homophobia — © IMAGO

Ligue 1 does not have its problems to seek due to a financial crisis caused by a TV rights storm, but not France’s top-flight also faces a legal challenge over what is described as “explicitly homophobic” chanting.

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The Stop Homophobia group has filed a complaint against Vincent Laburne, the president of the French League (LFP), following a post that appeared on Instagram and featured a homophobic chant from Saint-Etienne supporters.

It is claimed that the LFP’s attitude has ‘trivialised homophobia’ following the publication of a promotional video for Saint-Etienne’s derby clash with Lyon, which went live last Saturday. The chant is claimed by Stop Homophobia to be “explicitly homophobic” in its nature.

The LFP has since reacted by deleting the video but remains in the firing line.

In a statement from Stop Homophobia published on L’Equipe, it is said that “the LFP and match broadcasters Amazon and DAZN had been alerted to the persistence of homophobic chants in the stands”.

Following the video published last weekend, Etienne Deshoulieres, acting as a lawyer for Stop Homophobia, said that the LFP’s action has added to the “trivialisation of homophobia”.

LFP makes ‘harassment’ claim

The LFP has reacted to the allegations, pointing out that Labrune has been targeted by the legal action only in a professional capacity and that the lawsuit does not reflect his personal beliefs.

“Vincent Labrune is not being targeted as an individual, but as the LFP's publications director,” a statement also published on L’Equipe reads. “To avoid any confusion, he will sue anyone who associates his name with homophobia for slanderous denunciation and defamation.”

In a statement published by AFP, the League accepted its error but claimed that the action against it amounted to “harassment”.

“As soon as these remarks were identified, the LFP removed the video,” it claims, adding that it “offers its sincere apologies to anyone who may have been shocked or affected by this content.”

The LFP added that it is “almost the only sports body committed to fighting homophobia” and said that the action against it is “harassment against an institution and its leaders who are very committed to this issue”.

Ligue 1 matches can and have been stopped this season due to homophobic chanting while L’Equipe reports that the LFP issued 202 disciplinary sanctions against club during the 2022/23 season, “the vast majority” of which were because of homophobic abuse.