Lille supporters condemn racist insults heard during their Coupe de France victory | OneFootball

TW: Racism

Lille supporters have reported hearing racist insults coming from their fellow fans during their victory over Racing Club de France in the Coupe de France on the weekend.

After the match, Lille fans went to X (previously known as Twitter) to share their accounts of what occurred both during the game in the away stands, as well as outside the stadium.

The testimonies of those present at the game were collected and then shared by the account @Ni_Losciste. Among the reports made, Lille supporters were said to have chanted nationalist slogans such as ‘France for the French,’ and referred to the goalkeeper of Racing as a ‘dirty black.’

During the match, some supporters were spotted wearing shirts with SS written on them, a reference to the Nazi paramilitary organisation that carried out the Holocaust, and it was also reported that the ballboys for Racing were called ‘towel-heads.’

While on the bus back from the south of France, it was reported in an anonymous testimony that statements such as ‘we’re passing through all the countries of Africa except France’ were heard.

These racist incidents have been strongly condemned by Lille supporters on X (Twitter), with accounts such as @LeVieuxDogue denouncing these acts as being ‘unacceptable,’ and @Ni_Losciste referring to them as having tarnished ‘the image of our club and our country.’

Lille later responded with a club statement addressing these reports, stating that they have ‘always condemned, condemns, and will always condemn acts of hatred and discrimination, however isolated they may be, without any leniency or naivety.’

They further expressed that neither of the teams nor the officials present at the match were contacted about these incidents, and have since this morning studied the testimonies and approached witnesses.

Lille further expressed that ‘denouncing the acts and expressing indignation will unfortunately not be enough to protect our Club, our players and our supporters and to fight against these individuals who often take advantage of trips and away stands to infiltrate among the supporters.’

And asked for further assistance from the supporters ‘who saw heard or filmed racist acts or remarks last night at the Walter Luzi stadium to come forward to the club, so that they can be recontacted and confidentially supported in their testimony.’

GFFN | Nick Hartland