Nice vs Marseille Ligue 1 match halted after fans chant homophobic abuse and display anti-gay banners

Referee took the players off in the first half after Nice fans displayed banners with homophobic connotations, while chanting was also heard from the home support

Nice fans displayed a banner reading 'OM: support an LGBT team to fight against homophobia' (AFP/Getty)

A Ligue 1 derby between OGC Nice and Olympique Marseille was interrupted for several minutes on Wednesday over the display of banners with homophobic connotations.

Play was stopped in the first half and players left the field over the banners displayed by Nice fans. French media also reported homophobic chanting by the home supporters.

A second-half Dimitri Payet penalty gave Marseille a 2-1 win, their first of the season and first under new coach Andre Villas-Boas.

Dario Benedetto opened the scoring in the 31st minute, his first goal since joining from Boca Juniors and his team's first of the season, before Wylan Cyprien levelled with a 66th-minute penalty.

Earlier this month, a Ligue 2 match between Nancy and Le Mans was halted because of homophobic chants.

The French league told referees before the season to stop games in such cases and has pondered introducing a list of banned words in stadiums.

In March, French football league president Nathalie Boy de la Tour came under fire after saying that homophobic chants were part of the culture of the sport.

"It's part of the folklore," she said.

Referee Clement Turpin took the players off due to the homophobic banner and chanting (AFP/Getty)

Reuters