Paris St. Germain fans stationed in the Boulogne Kop unveiled a giant ‘Free Palestine’ banner before the kick-off of their UEFA Champions League game against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, eight days before France take on Israel in a Nations League game.
“War on the pitch, but peace in the world,” said a message underneath.
During the match that Atletico Madrid won 2-1, the PSG fans unrolled another message that read: “Does a child’s life in Gaza mean less than another?”
PSG said they had not been aware “of any plans to display such a message”.
“Paris St Germain recalls that the Parc des Princes is — and must remain — a place of communion around a common passion for soccer and firmly opposes any message of a political nature in its stadium,” the club added in a statement.
French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau criticised the move, saying it was “unacceptable.”
Asked if he would seek sanctions against PSG, Retailleau told Sud Radio: “I am not ruling out anything. I will demand explanations from PSG.”
Last year, Celtic were fined 17,500 euros for protests by fans who waved Palestinian flags.
Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed over 43,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 100,000 since October 7, 2023, according to the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry figures.
France take on Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday (November 14), with fans allowed in the 80,000-capacity stadium.
Questions have been raised on security surrounding the event in a country that has the largest Jewish community in Europe — and the third biggest in the world, way behind the United States and Israel — as well as the biggest number of Muslims in Europe.
Last month, Paris police officials said the game would ‘of course be open to the public’.
Italy played Israel in Udine amid tight security, but Belgium played their home game in Debrecen, Hungary, after their federation said that “In Belgium, no local administration deemed it possible to organise the Red Devils’ home match against Israel”.
(with inputs from Reuters)
