PSG Escape UEFA Sanctions After Fans Display ‘Free Palestine’ Banner

Paris St Germain will not face disciplinary proceedings after their fans unfurled a ‘Free Palestine’ banner before kick-off in Wednesday’s Champions League game at home to Atletico Madrid, European soccer’s governing body UEFA said.

The 50×20-metre banner was displayed in the Auteuil Kop of the Parc des Princes, prompting France’s Interior minister Bruno Retailleau to criticise the Qatar-owned club.

UEFA bans ‘provocative’ or ‘insulting’ political messages in stadiums, but said on Thursday the banner would not lead to potential sanctions despite some uproar in France and although previous political messages at matches resulted in punishments.

“There will … be no disciplinary case because the banner that was unfurled cannot be in this case considered provocative or insulting,” a UEFA spokesperson said.

Last year, Scottish club Celtic were fined 17,500 euros ($18,870) after their supporters waved Palestinian flags at a Champions League match.

The PSG fans’ action took place eight days before France play Israel in a Nations League game in Paris with spectators allowed in the Stade de France.

Last month, Paris police officials said the game would ‘of course be open to the public’.

Questions have been raised about security surrounding the France v Israel game in a country that has the largest Jewish community in Europe as well as its biggest population of Muslims.

Italy played Israel in Udine amid tight security, but Belgium hosted the Israelis in Debrecen, Hungary, after their federation said: “In Belgium, no local administration deemed it possible to organise the Red Devils’ home match against Israel”.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed around 43,400 Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gaza health ministry figures.

The conflict broke out after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.