Monday, May 05, 2008
PSG banned for abusive banner
Paris St Germain have been banned from defending the League Cup next season after some of their fans unfolded an abusive banner during this season's League Cup final, the French League (LFP) said on Wednesday.
PSG, already in the Ligue 1 relegation zone, could have been punished with a points deduction. Instead, they remain on 38 points and 18th in the 20-team top flight.
The banner was briefly unfolded after the interval of the final on March 29, which PSG won 2-1 against northern club Racing Lens.
It referred to a film about the life of the Ch'tis, a nickname for the people of northern France, which is breaking box offices records in France.
It read: "Paedophiles, unemployed, inbred: welcome chez les Ch'tis."
The French League said the banner was insulting but not racist.
PSG, already in the Ligue 1 relegation zone, could have been punished with a points deduction. Instead, they remain on 38 points and 18th in the 20-team top flight.
The banner was briefly unfolded after the interval of the final on March 29, which PSG won 2-1 against northern club Racing Lens.
It referred to a film about the life of the Ch'tis, a nickname for the people of northern France, which is breaking box offices records in France.
It read: "Paedophiles, unemployed, inbred: welcome chez les Ch'tis."
The French League said the banner was insulting but not racist.
