Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Paris St Germain v Olympique de Marseille - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - September 24, 2023 Paris St Germain's Randal Kolo Muani in action with Olympique de Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo
(Reuters) -Paris St Germain players Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi and Layvin Kurzawa have been handed suspended one-match suspensions for their role in offensive chants, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said on Thursday.
During last month's Ligue 1 match against Olympique de Marseille at the Parc des Princes, PSG fans were heard celebrating with homophobic chants directed at Marseille.
French sports daily L'Equipe said PSG players were also involved in offensive chanting.
The LFP handed the players suspended one-match suspensions effective from Oct. 10 and decided to close the Auteuil stand at the Parc des Princes for two matches, one of which was suspended.
"The club regrets that the Disciplinary Commission has opted for an excessive and collective measure, likely to undermine the work of dialogue and prevention undertaken by the Club with associations, institutions and fans," PSG said in a statement, adding that they will not appeal.
The players later apologised, saying they got "carried away by the euphoria" of the victory.
"We're well aware of the impact of our gestures and words on the public, especially the younger ones who dream of watching a soccer match," they wrote in social media posts.
"We sincerely regret the words we should not have spoken and wish to apologise. In the future, we will do our utmost to be even more exemplary."
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City, editing by Ed Osmond)
