\n<\/p>\n
PIRAEUS, October 2026 \u2014 A large homophobic banner displayed by supporters throughout Sunday\u2019s Super League derby between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos drew criticism on social media after television broadcasts repeatedly showed it.<\/strong><\/p>\n Supporters hung the banner at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, in a prominent spot facing the television cameras. Despite its size and visibility, it stayed in place until the final whistle.<\/p>\n It was not immediately clear whether Greek football authorities would take disciplinary action over the homophobic banner.<\/p>\n Panathinaikos had not given an official reaction immediately after the match.<\/p>\n The banner adapted a well-known football supporters\u2019 chant and suggested that rival fans were gay. The word \u201cgay\u201d appeared in green, the colour linked with the Athens club.<\/p>\n On the pitch, Olympiacos won 1-0. Greece international defender Panagiotis Retsos scored the only goal in the 34th minute. Greek City Times covered the game in its match report on the Eternal Derby.<\/p>\n UEFA, European football\u2019s governing body, said discrimination has no place in the sport, \u201con or off the pitch.\u201d<\/em> Its anti-discrimination policy<\/a> explicitly covers homophobia and anti-LGBTQ+ hate, as well as racism, sexism and antisemitism.<\/p>\n In addition, UEFA rules allow disciplinary action against clubs and associations when supporters behave in a discriminatory way.<\/p>\n European football bodies have punished similar conduct before. In 2017, UEFA partly closed Red Star Belgrade\u2019s stadium for a European match after supporters displayed a homophobic banner. It cited its rules against discriminatory behaviour.<\/p>\n Similarly, the French Professional Football League condemned homophobic chants by Paris Saint-Germain fans at a match against Strasbourg in October 2024. The league referred the case to its disciplinary commission. It later partly closed a stand at the Parc des Princes for one match.<\/p>\n French government officials also condemned the chants at the time.<\/p>\n Source: Kathimerini<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat the homophobic banner said<\/h3>\n
UEFA rules and past cases<\/h3>\n