France defender Jules Koundé has urged authorities to take firm action against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans who displayed an offensive banner targeting Adrien Rabiot and his mother during Sunday’s Ligue 1 match against Marseille.
A large banner, clearly visible in the Auteuil section of the Parc des Princes, insulted Rabiot and his mother, Véronique, sparking outrage among players and officials. Koundé, Rabiot’s teammate in the French national team, condemned the act, stating that the insults crossed a line.
“I really feel for Adrien. There are limits, and I think the limits were clearly breached,” said Koundé. “It’s not just the player who is targeted, but the person and his family. It’s unacceptable.”
The Barcelona right-back further emphasized that such behavior should not be tolerated in football stadiums.
“I obviously hope that (the authorities) will be firm about this because it’s unacceptable what happened,” Koundé said. “These kinds of chants and banners don’t have their place inside a stadium.”
Rabiot Responds to the Abuse
Rabiot, who played over 200 games for PSG between 2012 and 2019, is currently one of Marseille’s standout players. His decision to join PSG’s fierce rivals after leaving Juventus was seen as a betrayal by some PSG supporters, leading to relentless targeting during the match.
In response to the abuse, Rabiot took to Instagram with a strong message aimed at the perpetrators.
“Insulting a mother, and a dead father… You have to pay for everything one day,” he wrote.
His mother, who also serves as his agent, expressed her disappointment in an interview with Radio France on Monday.
“I don’t understand why the match wasn’t stopped,” she said. “I don’t understand why nobody is outraged. Why are some matches stopped and not others?”
She also confirmed that she would be filing an official complaint.
Authorities and Campaign Groups Speak Out
French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo voiced his support for Rabiot and condemned the offensive banner and chanting.
Additionally, there were reports of homophobic and racist chants during the high-profile Ligue 1 fixture, which was broadcast globally. The French campaign group Rouge Direct has called for strong action from football authorities and politicians to ensure strict punishment for such incidents.
French referees have the authority to halt matches if homophobic or racist chants occur in stadiums. However, referee Clément Turpin, considered one of the best officials in Europe, did not stop the game despite a stadium announcement requesting fans to cease derogatory chanting.
As Koundé and Rabiot prepare to play for France against Croatia in the Nations League quarterfinal on Thursday, the controversy remains a major talking point. Many now await the French league’s response to the latest case of fan misconduct in Ligue 1.
