'Unacceptable and appalling' Adrien Rabiot abuse by PSG fans condemned as Jules Kounde urges 'firm' action
Published 19/03/2025 at 11:24 GMT
Adrien Rabiot's return to Paris Saint-Germain with Marseille saw the midfielder, and his family, subjected to abuse from fans. Rabiot left PSG in 2019 to join Juventus and last summer made the move to Marseille. France defender Jules Kounde condemned the "unacceptable" abuse towards Rabiot, whose mother and agent Veronique questioned why the match was not stopped.
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France defender Jules Kounde has called for "firm" action to be taken against "unacceptable" abuse aimed towards Adrien Rabiot, his mother, and his late father, by Paris Saint-Germain fans in Sunday’s Ligue 1 game against Marseille.
Paris-born Rabiot played for the youth teams at PSG before making 227 appearances for the club from 2012-19. He drew the ire of PSG fans due to his decision to join rivals Marseille after leaving Juventus last summer.
Sunday’s ‘Le Classique’ was the first time Rabiot had played at Parc des Princes following the move and the match was overshadowed by alleged homophobic and racist chants, as well as banners insulting Rabiot and his family.
Rabiot’s mother and agent, Veronique Rabiot, has lodged a complaint, while Marseille, Rabiot and Kounde condemned the remarks.
‘You have to pay for everything one day’
When Rabiot left PSG in 2019 it was under a cloud as he had been frozen out of the team following a contract stand-off and questions over his off-pitch behaviour.
He received a hostile reception on his return to Parc des Princes, with offensive chants directed towards him and one banner insulting his mother.
Rabiot also alleged PSG fans insulted his father, who died in 2019, and after the game called out PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
"Insulting a mother, and a deceased father... You have to pay for everything one day," Rabiot wrote on Instagram.
"You won't take it to heaven. Believe me. Nasser, you can have all the money in the world and even more, class can't be bought."
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Adrien Rabiot in action against PSG
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French campaign group Rouge Direct called on the country’s authorities to punish the discriminatory chanting heard at the match, while Rabiot’s mother and agent, Veronique, said afterwards that she intended to file a complaint due to the abuse.
"I don't understand why the match wasn't stopped," she told Radio France.
"I don't understand why no one is outraged. I'm really outraged by what can be said and written, without anyone reacting. Why are some matches stopped and not others?".
Ligue 1 referees can pause matches if there is homophobic and racist chanting, but referee Clement Turpin did not do so.
PSG were forced to close part of Parc des Princes earlier this season as punishment for homophobic chanting by fans.
Kounde: Limit has been crossed
Rabiot is on international duty this week as France face Croatia in their two-legged UEFA Nations League quarter-final.
It has been reported by RMC that he has received support from his international team-mates as well as members of the coaching staff.
French compatriot and Barcelona defender Kounde said the abuse directed towards Rabiot was "upsetting".
"I think that beyond any rivalries that may exist, beyond the discontent of the supporters, which may or may not be understandable, there are limits, and I think that the limits have clearly been crossed because it's not just the player who is being attacked, but the person, and also his family. I find that unacceptable.
"I think that the president of the federation has already offered his support and I think that everyone supports Adrien and I hope that we will obviously be firm on this because what happened is unacceptable, but also I am thinking more generally about other behaviour, this kind of banner or chants, I think they have no place in the stadium.
Marseille also condemned the abuse aimed at Rabiot.
"The personal attacks, particularly targeting Adrien Rabiot and his family, are despicable and unacceptable," Marseille said.
"The club, which wishes to offer its full support and solidarity to its midfielder and his loved ones, announces that it joins the complaint filed against unknown persons by Adrien Rabiot's family."
Marseille added they will "continue to be uncompromising and inflexible against any insulting remarks against the club, its management, its employees or its supporters".
French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo called the abuse "disgraceful and appalling".
"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the offensive banners and chants seen and heard at the Parc des Princes," he told AFP.
"In particular, the insults hurled at a player and his family by irresponsible supporters are disgraceful, shameful and appalling. Naturally, I give them my full support in condemning such behaviour, which has no place in football or anywhere else."
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