The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will not initiate any procedure against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), following the typhus deployed, on Wednesday, November 6, in the Parc des Princes, by members of the Collectif Ultras Paris (CUP ) – the club’s biggest fans -, before the start of the Champions League match against Atlético de Madrid.
UEFA prohibits any message “of a political, ideological, religious nature” in the stadiums if they consider it offensive, and may resort to sanctions, according to article 16.4 of their disciplinary regulations. But the immense canvas with the message “Free Palestine”on top of a banner asking “war on the ground but peace in the world”exhibited at the Auteuil stand, “It cannot be considered provocative or insulting in this specific case”the organization argued through its spokesperson on Thursday.
In October 2022, UEFA opened a disciplinary file against the capital club after a match against the Israeli club Maccabi Haifa, when members of the CUP displayed a banner. “Gaza exists, Gaza resists, Palestine Free”without this giving rise to a sanction. In October 2023, during the match against AC Milan, Palestinian flags were displayed in the Auteuil stand, as well as banners supporting the Gazans, two weeks after the Israeli response to the October 7 attacks. UEFA subsequently sanctioned PSG… for the use of smoke bombs in the stands.
“I demand accountability”
A few hours before the statements of the spokesperson of the European organization this Thursday, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, had harshly criticized the leader of the CUP, considering that “It had no place in this stadium. »
“I ask PSG to explain itself and the clubs to ensure that politics does not harm sport, which must always remain a catalyst for unity”wrote the tenant of Place Bauveau on his account X and shortly after added on Sud Radio: “I want to know more, to know how this tarp arrived, how it could have been deployed… I asked the police chief to tell me what had happened. We have agreed on several things, but I demand accountability. Solemnly. »
Mr. Retailleau indicated that no appointment had yet been made with the club. He also promised sanctions if PSG were not able to take strong action. The Minister of Sports, Gilles Avérous, had also “Unacceptable abuses.” “Sports fields should not become political forums” he added.
France-Israel at the Stade de France, on the 14th
Paris Saint-Germain was not aware of the content of the message contained in this typo, says a club source, who wishes to underline “That the Parc des Princes is – and must continue to be – a place of communion around a common passion for football. »
This matter occurs while the French soccer team faces the Hebrew State team on November 14, at the Stade de France, within the framework of the Nations League. The organization of this party promises to be very tense in terms of security, given the international context.
Belgium, for its part, had given up welcoming Israel in September; the meeting had been moved to Hungary. In October, Italy hosted its duel in Udine, in a small stadium, with the creation of a “red zone” forty-eight hours before the start of the match and a reduced number of spectators (12,000 tickets sold for a 25,000-seat venue). . Last week, Bruno Retailleau reiterated that the meeting would be held in Saint-Denis, but left the door open to a possible reduction in capacity and assured that a reinforced system would be put in place.
