“Free Palestine, war on the ground peace in the world”. This tifo deployed in the Auteuil stand by the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP) divides Paris Saint-Germain supporters and not only that… The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, condemned this “political” message, in a context of tension in the Middle East. Since October 7, 2023 and the terrorist attacks originating from the Gaza Strip, Israel has been waging a war in its occupied territories under the influence of a politicized Islam through Hamas.
In France, the Ultras are not at their first controversy. These groups of supporters enjoy a certain reputation for tugging at heartstrings and offending public opinion. The supporters of the Capital club also have a dirty history.
“Banner of shame”
“Pedophiles, unemployed, inbreds: welcome to the Ch’tis”. In 2008, this message deployed at the Stade de France during the League Cup final between Lens and Paris Saint-Germain did not go through at all. She is described as “the banner of shame”. The Minister of the Interior at the time, Michèle Alliot-Marie, decided to dissolve the group of Boulogne Boys supporters who had been inspired by Dany Boon's film to denigrate the inhabitants of the north of France.
Classy, the insults!
An exacerbated rivalry between two clubs easily leaves room for slippage. This is the case with derbies, these matches between clubs from two nearby towns. The most famous in France are certainly those between AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais. In 2000, Lyon supporters brandished a banner with the shocking and contested message: “ Les Gones invented cinema… When your fathers died in the mines “. Controversial when we know the bourgeois history of Lyon and the working class history of Saint-Etienne.
Messages can be more politicized, responding to current events. Season 95/96, supporters of Olympique Lyonnais respond to the contested desire of the President of the Republic, Jacques Chirac, to carry out nuclear tests in the Pacific. “ Stop nuclear tests in Mururoa… Do them in Saint-Etienne », deploy the Ultras of Lugdunums Lyon.
Full-bodied banner
Paris Saint-Germain is also a prime target. Shortly after the Charlie Hebdo attacks, the capital club traveled to Corsica to face the Sporting Club de Bastia. “Qatar finances PSG… And terrorism”, we can read in a column. A reference to the Qatari owner of the club since 2011 and to the kingdom's obscure financing. This does not pass for the Professional Football League which imposes a fine of 35,000 euros on the club.
