French president Nicolas Sarkozy, a longtime Paris St. Germain fan, said he regrets that fans can't bring their families to games at the Parc des Prince because of violence inside and outside the stadium, and he vowed to have First Division games played before closed doors if that would keep away PSG fans who fought among themselves during the club's 3-0 loss to archrival Marseille on Sunday.

"I've been going to PSG for a good while, and for a good while longer than the thugs who make an unfortunate scene in the stands," he said. "These thugs, you shouldn't call them supporters, are thugs and believe me, with the Minister of the Interior [Brice Hortefeux] we will make sure these thugs leave our stadiums. It's better that the stands of a stadium are empty than full of people like that."

PSG will play its next home league game behind closed doors and will no longer sell tickets for away games to its fans. "I find it really sad that we have arrived at this unacceptable position where supporters cannot come with their families to support their team," Sarkozy added. "I'm embarrassed for these people who behave like that."