French make stance against racism

Unsavoury incidents
The country's professional footballers' association, the Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionels (UNFP), has organised the protest following recent unsavoury incidents surrounding top-flight clubs.

United front
Players will enter the field at all Ligue 1 games with one team wearing t-shirts saying 'No to racism' and the other 'No to violence'. "Referees and coaches followed us immediately," said UNFP chairman Jean-Jacques Amorfinim, after referees and coaches also decided to join the demonstration.

Racial abuse
The protest is a reaction to recent events. Last Saturday, SC Bastia's black players Pascal Chimbonda and Franck Matingou were racially abused outside the club's stadium by supporters unhappy with their contributions, following the 3-0 home defeat by AS Saint-Etienne. The car the players were travelling in was also damaged.

Iron bars thrown
A few days earlier, the league and cup matches between two of the France's biggest clubs, Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain FC, were marred by hooliganism. Before the sides' league meeting on 7 November, which PSG won 2-1, the Marseille team bus was hit by missiles - including iron bars - thrown by Parisian fans en route to the Parc des Princes. The driver was slightly injured.

Fans invade stand
Three days later, after Marseille had again lost to their northern rivals, 3-2 in a French League Cup tie at the Stade Vélodrome, a few home supporters invaded a stand containing a VIP section to vent their fury at club directors. Police had to intervene to prevent them reaching chairman Christophe Bouchet.

'Unspeakable'
The incidents have shocked the French sporting community and angered genuine football fans, with the country's minister for sport, Jean-François Lamour, calling them "unspeakable". "You can't leave behind Republican values at the entrance to the stadium," he said. Mr Lamour added that existing laws to combat troublemakers would be strengthened and more strictly applied.