French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has expressed strong disapproval of a giant “Free Palestine” banner displayed by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) fans during their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid, calling it “unacceptable,”Al Jazeera reports.
The banner, unveiled by the hard-core fan group Paris Ultras Collective (CUP), spanned 50 meters wide and 20 meters high, depicting the Palestinian and Lebanese flags with the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem at its center. It also displayed a historical map of Palestine and a message reading “War on the pitch, but peace in the world.”
Retailleau, speaking to Sud Radio on Thursday, said he would “demand explanations” from PSG, stating that he is “not ruling out anything.” He emphasized the need to understand how the banner was allowed to be displayed, despite prior agreements with the Paris police on security measures.
While UEFA, European football’s governing body, has confirmed that PSG will not face disciplinary action, citing the banner’s non-provocative nature, the incident has stirred controversy.
The banner’s appearance comes just eight days before France hosts Israel in a UEFA Nations League match in Paris, raising concerns about potential security risks in a country with a large Jewish and Muslim population.
PSG, in a statement released after the match, claimed they were unaware of the plan to display the message. However, the incident has brought attention to the sensitive nature of political messaging in sporting events, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Last year, Celtic FC was fined $19,000 after their fans displayed Palestinian flags during a Champions League match, highlighting the complex issue of political expression within the sport.
The “Free Palestine” banner has prompted calls for further scrutiny of security measures surrounding the upcoming France-Israel match.
