PSG’s pro-Palestine banner: an anti-Semitic message? Why is the Minister of the Interior outraged?

A large pro-Palestine banner was displayed in the stands of the Parc des Princes this Wednesday evening during a PSG match. Bruno Retailleau stepped up and threatened the Parisian club with sanctions.

This Wednesday, November 6, PSG faced Atlético de Madrid at the Parc des Princes, as part of the fourth day of the Champions League. From the kick-off, a huge “Free Palestine” banner was displayed in the stadium by the Collectif ultras Paris in the Auteuil stand. On the banner, which covered an entire section of the stands, appeared the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem mosque, the portrait of a Palestinian with a scarf hiding his face. A letter “i” was represented by a map of Israel and Palestine entirely in the colors of the Palestinian keffiyeh. He also wrote the message “war on the ground, but peace in the world”.

The display of this banner caused a strong reaction. If the collective did not make anti-Semitic remarks, the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (Crif) denounced this display, considering that the letter “i” erased Israel from the map and seeing in the portrait of the Palestinian in the headscarf a member of Hamas. “Outrageous banner this evening at the Parc des Princes! A map where the State of Israel no longer exists. A masked Palestinian fighter. This is not a message of peace but a call to hatred. The authors of this banner must be sanctioned! Intolerable!”, wrote on X Yonathan Arfi, president of the Crif. Same story with Elie Korchia, president of the Central Jewish Consistory of France, pointing out a “slogan which falsely calls for peace in the world”. According to him, this tifo “exudes hatred above all”.

PSG sanctioned?

In a press release, PSG defended itself, ensuring that it was not aware of such an initiative. He denounced this “poster project”, recalling that “the Parc des Princes is – and must remain – a place of communion around a common passion for football and firmly opposes any message of a political nature in its stadium”. UEFA, which organizes the Champions League, prohibits messages of a political nature in stadiums in its regulations.

A response which did not satisfy the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau, who called the Parisian club to account. He also considers that this banner can be interpreted as support for terrorist organizations present in Palestine. “I ask PSG to explain themselves and the clubs to ensure that politics does not damage sport, which must always remain a catalyst for unity,” he reacted on Twitter.

The minister even considered sanctions: “If this were to repeat itself, we will have to consider banning tifos for clubs which do not enforce the rules.” This Thursday, he reiterated his threats towards the club on South Radio : “I’m not stopping myself from doing anything, I’m going to ask Paris-Saint-Germain for explanations, it’s unacceptable.” This event also takes place eight days before the match between France and Israel in the League of Nations at the Stade de France, a clash which will be placed under close surveillance.