The Collectif Ultras Paris has broken its silence. Author of a banner in support of Palestine at the Parc des Princes during the Champions League match PSG-Atlético de Madridon Wednesday, the CUP clarified on Thursday that its tifo did not convey “a message of hatred”, but rather “a call for peace”.
“In no way was this tifo intended to convey a message of hatred. On the contrary, the message that accompanied it is explicit and is a call for peace between peoples”, says the supporters’ group in a statement posted on X. At the bottom of the huge tifo that so ruffled the feathers of the French Minister of the Interior, this message was written: “War on the pitch but peace in the world”.
PSG didn’t know, say ultras
Earlier in the day, the deployment of the banner earned the support of French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo and PSG general manager Victoriano Melero, a summons to the Ministry of the Interior on Friday at 10am. The FFF President reserves the right to honor the summons, as the Champions League match does not fall within his authority’s remit, but rather that of UEFA.
For its part, the European body announced on Thursday that it would not initiate any proceedings against PSG “as the banner displayed cannot be considered provocative or insulting in this specific case”. In its “clarification”, the CUP also stated that it had received “neither assistance nor complaisance” from PSG for “the creation or deployment” of its banner, a fact confirmed earlier by the Parisian club.