French league open inquiry into racist banner

By Pierre Savary

LENS, France (Reuters) - The French football league (LFP) has launched an inquiry after Paris St Germain supporters unfolded a racist banner during the French League Cup final against Lens at the Stade de France on Saturday.

The LFP's disciplinary committee will meet and study the match officials' report before making a ruling, the league said in a statement on Sunday.

The banner referred to a film about the life of the Ch'tis, a nickname for the people of northern France, which is breaking box office records in France. It read: "Paedophiles, unemployed, inbred: welcome chez les Ch'tis."

The banner was unfolded briefly at the start of the second half.

"A great party about football, fraternity and solidarity in the fight against racism was partly spoiled by a handful of idiots full of hatred," LFP president Frederic Thiriez told a news conference in Paris.

The LFP will file a legal complaint against those responsible for the incident, Thiriez added, saying he believed police could soon identify them.

"The reaction from the League will be as strong as the damage this has done to our football," Thiriez said.

"AN INSULT"

Lens mayor Guy Delcourt had earlier asked for the final, won 2-1 by PSG after a controversial late penalty, to be replayed.

"Even if we had won the game, I would have asked for a replay," Delcourt, who is also a member of parliament, told a news conference on Sunday.

"I took the banner as an insult to all the people of northern France, to all the mineworkers who died for our country," he added.

"I'm going to file a complaint and I'm asking the judge to hear as a witness President Nicolas Sarkozy and all the ministers who attended the game. We'll go all the way. It's an affair of state."

Ligue 1 bottom club Metz were docked a point last week and ordered to play a home game behind closed doors after Valenciennes' captain Abdeslam Ouaddou was racially abused during a Ligue 1 game at last month.

Lens coach Jean-Pierre Papin has called on the French league to treat PSG the same way as they had Metz.

"When I see the banners of the PSG supporters, it hurts," said the former France striker. "Metz were severely punished and I think PSG should also be severely punished."

PSG are in the relegation zone, lying 19th in the 20-team league and two points adrift of Lens, who are currently safe in 17th place.

(Additional reporting by Christophe Michel in Paris)

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