Paris St Germain’s Fans unveiled a giant ‘Free Palestine’ tifo during their match against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.
The incident came eight days before France is set to host the Israeli football team in Paris in a UEFA Nations League game.
The massive tifo by Paris Ultras Collective (CUP), depicted the iconic Jerusalem Dome of the Rock at the center, while featuring a Palestinian figure draped in a red Keffiyeh to its right.
"🇵🇸 FREE PALESTINE"
"🤝 La guerre sur le terrain mais la paix dans le monde"
Le tifo du Parc des Princes avant PSG-Atlético. pic.twitter.com/81Ip8jlVKv
— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) November 6, 2024
Bloodstained Palestinian and Lebanese flags bordered the banner reading ‘Free Palestine’, in English.
The lower end of the banner conveyed the message “War on the pitch, but peace in the world” in French and showcased a historical map of Palestine.
During the match, fans unveiled another message that reads: “Does a child’s life in Gaza mean less than another?”
French rightwing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau criticized the unfurling of a giant “Free Palestine” banner, claiming it “unacceptable,” Reuters reported.
French interior minister Bruno Retailleau, expressed his disapproval in X, stating “This Tifo had no place in this stadium.”
“I ask PSG to explain itself and the clubs to ensure that politics does not come to damage sport, which must always remain a source of unity,” he said, adding such actions were banned by both French football and UEFA.
“If this were to happen again, we will have to consider forbidding banners for clubs that do not enforce the rules,” he added.
European football’s governing body UEFA told the Reuters news agency that PSG will not face disciplinary proceedings as it only bans political messages deemed insulting or provocative.
In a statement after the match, PSG said they had not been aware “of any plans to display such a message.”
Sports journalist Leyla Hamed took to X stating “Let’s see how many sports media fellow journalist colleagues will try to ignore last night’s beautiful sight by PSG Ultras at Parc des Frans.”
On Wednesday, pro-Plaestinain activists protested at France’s football association against the France versus Israel match at the UEFA Nations League to be held in November.
Since Israel’s assault on Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 523 athletes, referees, and sports officials have been killed, including more than 300 football players, many of whom were children and members of sports academies.
