French Football League President Faces Legal Challenge Over Controversial Social Media Post

Vincent Labrune, the president of the French Professional Football League (LFP), is at the center of a legal dispute following the publication of allegedly homophobic content on the league’s official Instagram account. The anti-discrimination organization Stop Homophobie has filed a formal complaint against Labrune, accusing him of public homophobic insult in his role as editor-in-chief of the LFP’s social media presence.

The controversy stems from a promotional video shared ahead of a derby match between AS Saint-Étienne and Olympique Lyonnais. The now-deleted post contained footage of Saint-Étienne supporters chanting what Stop Homophobie claims was an explicitly homophobic slur directed at Lyon fans.

Étienne Deshoulières, representing Stop Homophobie, argued that the decision to use such content for promotional purposes demonstrates a concerning normalization of homophobia within football, especially on highly visible social media platforms.

The LFP expressed surprise at the complaint, describing the incident as an “unfortunate broadcast” of discriminatory fan remarks. They emphasized that the video was quickly removed once the nature of the chant was realized and offered apologies to those offended. The league also reaffirmed its commitment to combating all forms of discrimination.

An anonymous source close to the LFP characterized the complaint as “harassment” against an organization they claim is one of the few sports authorities actively fighting homophobia. The source suggested some groups prioritize publicity over genuine progress in addressing discrimination.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by sports organizations in addressing discriminatory behavior and the complexities of managing social media content in a sensitive and responsible manner.