French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau yesterday criticised the unfurling of a giant “Free Palestine” banner at a Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football match, saying it was “unacceptable”, Reuters reported.
However, European football governing body UEFA said the club would not face sanctions.
On Wednesday night, fans from Paris Saint-Germain’s Auteuil Kop group displayed a huge “Free Palestine” banner before their Champions League game against Atletico Madrid, eight days before France play the occupation state of Israel in Paris in a Nations League game. Beneath the banner a separate streamer read: “war on the pitch but peace in the world.”
Their action took place as Israel pressed on with a military offensive in Gaza that has killed about 43,400 Palestinians since 7 October 2023 and has been extended into Lebanon, where thousands more have been killed.
PSG said after the game it had not been made 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 said in a statement.
UEFA told Reuters today that PSG will not face disciplinary proceedings as it only bans political messages deemed insulting or provocative.
“There will therefore be no disciplinary case because the banner that was unfurled cannot in this case be considered provocative or insulting in that precise case,” a UEFA spokesperson said.
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