The images of their tifo went around the world, as is often the case when ultras display their support for Palestine in its conflict with Israel in a more or less spectacular manner. This Wednesday evening, before the match between PSG and Atlético de Madrid at the Parc des Princes on behalf of the 4th day of the Champions League, the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) unveiled a huge tarpaulin calling to “liberate the Palestine”, accompanied by the following message: “War on the ground but peace in the world”.
A massive tarpaulin which therefore circulated massively on social networks and which was followed by two other banners, another on Gaza (“Is the life of a child in Gaza worth less than another?”) and one on the conflict in Congo (“A forgotten war that kills every day, free Congo”).
“The Club was not aware of the plan to display such a message,” reacted the club, contacted by Le Parisien. Paris Saint-Germain recalls that the Parc des Princes is – and must remain – a place of communion around a common passion for football and firmly opposes any message of a political nature in its stadium. »
Can PSG now be sanctioned for this very public position taken by its ultras, although they are not used to speaking out on this type of subject? UEFA, which organizes the Champions League, prohibits in article 44 of its regulations on safety and security messages of a political nature in stadiums, however noble they may be considered by those who emit them: “The dissemination or promotion of political messages by any means whatsoever as well as any other form of political action inside or in the immediate vicinity of the stadium are strictly prohibited before, during and after the match,” we read.
In October 2023, while PSG hosted AC Milan in the group stage at the Parc des Princes, the capital club the ultras had already deployed several more discreet banners and Palestinian flags in the Auteuil stand. At the time, UEFA decided not to sanction.
Other clubs have not fallen through the cracks, despite generally fairly light sanctions. Celtic Glasgow received a fine of 17,500 euros at the end of 2023 after the display of numerous Palestinian flags by its ultras in the stands, as well as a banner calling for “victory for the Resistance”. The club had, of its own accord, decided to suspend one of its supporters groups. In the Conference League in March 2022, it was OM who were fined 40,690 euros for a pro-Armenia banner during a match against the Azerbaijani club Qarabag.
