Véronique Rabiot, mother and agent of midfielder Adrien Rabiot (29), spoke to L’Equipe in an interview published this Tuesday. She spoke at length about the banners and chants at the Parc des Princes that targeted her and the Olympique de Marseille player during Sunday’s match against Paris Saint-Germain (3-1, day 26 of Ligue 1). Unsurprisingly, she expressed her anger and reiterated her intention to lodge a complaint.
Véronique Rabiot “You can’t tell me that the clubs don’t know about this.”
“I’m not hurt, I’m indignant and angry. For Adrien, everything’s fine, he remains serene. But we can’t let such comments go unchallenged.
You announced that you and Adrien were going to lodge a complaint about the events at the Parc.
Yes, we are. I can’t tell you yet against whom because we’re still checking with the lawyers and I don’t want to say just anything. But I’ll file all the complaints I can.
Do you feel that PSG is partly responsible?
(Firmly) Of course! Do you think it’s possible to smuggle in banners of that size without anyone knowing? Where did the guy hide them? In his underwear? No! Of course not! Don’t tell me that the clubs don’t know about this. They know very well that there are banners. All they have to do is ask to see them.
What’s more, when the banners went up, I don’t get the impression that the stewards rushed to have them removed. Everyone had been warned that in the event of homophobic chanting, the match would be stopped. But it wasn’t. There’s a double standard here.
Véronique Rabiot “a fear of PSG, a fear of the Qataris, of Nasser al-Khelaïfi.”
How do you explain this?
I think there’s a fear of PSG, a fear of the Qataris, of Nasser al-Khelaïfi. There’s too much at stake financially. And when it comes to PSG, everyone shrugs it off. After that, I think that when such problems arise in the stands, the clubs have a real share of responsibility, and not just in Paris either.”
It’s easy to see why the various messages sent out at the Parc des Princes didn’t go down well. There were some strong, harsh words that nobody would want to hear. Some will say it’s part of the “game”, part of soccer. It’s easy to agree when it comes to the chambrage, but it’s more complicated when it comes to insults.
However, it’s quite clear that such chants and banners don’t only exist at the Parc des Princes. It’s happening in every stadium (or almost every stadium), with regard to just about every club and many players. It’s clear that the Parc and PSG are in the media spotlight. It would be painful to see a sanction when all the others pass by without the slightest remark.
We’ll need to take regular, global action if we’re to make any progress. And that requires a much broader (and more difficult) effort on the part of society as a whole. In the meantime, Véronique Rabiot is clearly going to have a fight on her hands. Exactly against whom remains to be seen.
In any case, we’re a little surprised to see this “fear” of PSG and the Qataris evoked, only to point out that these worries don’t only exist in Paris. There is at least reason to believe that the explanation lies elsewhere than in this argument. But it’s been a classic to say lately.
