Marseille Fans Protest McCourt During PSG Defeat

Marseille fans unfurled banners mocking owner Frank McCourt before and during a 2-1 home Ligue 1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The banners read "2016: Champions Project. 2026: Ligue 2 Project? McCourt Out." The result was Marseille's fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions. Marseille stands second to last in Ligue 1. McCourt bought the club in 2016 and pledged €200 million ($210 million) over four years. Marseille missed Champions League qualification this season and made no new signings in the summer transfer window due to financial constraints. Substitute Ferran Torres scored for PSG. Ousmane Dembélé missed a chance in the 12th minute, Neal Maupay fluffed a first-half chance set up by Amine Gouiri, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia nearly scored in the 52nd minute from a Dembélé cut-back. After the final whistle the Marseille players went to the Virage Sud and drew applause from the Ultras. Marseille last won Ligue 1 in 2010, last took a trophy with the now-defunct League Cup in 2012, and is the only French club to win the Champions League, in 1993. Since Qatari investors took over PSG in 2011 the sides have met 37 times in Le Classique, with PSG holding 28 wins, 5 draws and 4 losses.