Paris City Hall is taking legal action after mayor Anne Hidalgo was targeted by Paris Saint-Germain fans with alleged sexist abuse amid a dispute about the club’s future at the Parc des Princes.
Hidalgo, 64, was allegedly subjected to the abuse during the Ligue 1 fixture against Lille on February 10, with a standoff between Paris authorities and PSG ongoing over the ownership of the Parc des Princes.
Homophobic chanting was also allegedly heard at the game.
PSG allegedly played an educative message before the match and made a stadium announcement when the chants were heard.
City Hall says it has taken action to “shed light on these events” and hopes it can be conducted in “cooperation” with PSG.
Hidalgo is also filing a separate civil complaint in her own name for public insult.
A press release from Paris City Hall read: “During the PSG-Lille match, homophobic chants were once again uttered at the Parc des Princes. They were accompanied by sexist insults against the mayor of Paris. Through its lawyer, the City has taken legal action so that light can be shed on these events and that all responsibilities are taken.
“The City of Paris is certain that this can be done in perfect cooperation with Paris-Saint-Germain.
“Furthermore, Anne Hidalgo will file a complaint in her name for public insult with the constitution of civil party.”
PSG did not comment when approached by The Athletic.
PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi confirmed this month the club will seek to leave the Parc des Princes after the Paris city council reaffirmed that the stadium was not for sale.
The club have long sought to purchase the stadium outright from the city council before expanding it in order to improve matchday revenues.
Hidalgo reiterated in an interview with Ouest France that while the council would support any transformation to the ground, “there will be no sale of the Parc des Princes”. This was then reaffirmed in a vote by the city council that same day.
Fans displayed a series of banners during the fixture against Lille, protesting the proposed departure from the Parc des Princes and criticising Hidalgo.
PSG have played at the Parc des Princes since their first appearance in the French top flight in 1974 and agreed a thirty-year extension to their lease in 2013.
City Hall also said it “remains mobilised against all forms of discrimination” after homophobic chanting allegedly took place during the Lille fixture.
PSG were handed a one-game partial stadium ban in October after homophobic chants were heard during September’s Ligue 1 fixture against Marseille.
(Alain Jocard/AFP via Getty Images)
