It was expected.
Several Parisian supporters unfurled flags in the colors of Palestine at the entrance of the players to the lawn of the Parc des Princes before this PSG-Maccabi Haifa in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
A dozen of these red, black, white and green banners were displayed at the bottom of the Auteuil stand, opposite the visitor parking lot reserved for Israeli supporters.
Photos also show at least one scarf featuring this symbol of the Palestinian state.
Opposite, in the Boulogne bend, supporters of the club from this city in the north of the Jewish state also displayed Israeli flags.
Theoretically limited to 1650, Maccabi Haifa supporters are in reality much more numerous and have spilled out of their parking lot into the rest of the Boulogne stand.
Smoke bombs and fireworks fired from this part of the stadium even briefly interrupted this European match.
Palestinian flags in Auteuil at the time of the composition of the teams.
#PSGMAC pic.twitter.com/ac9cbKcZpP
— The Parisian |
PSG (@le_Parisien_PSG) October 25, 2022
Encounter classified at risk
During the day, the Parisian club announced on Twitter that it was forbidden to show up at the stadium with a "flag of countries not represented at PSG".
"Any individual who does not respect these rules is liable to exclusion from the stadium", he had warned on the social network, announcing that it was also prohibited to wear a jersey or a scarf from the opposing team outside visitor parking.
A reinforced security system of "800 police and gendarmes" was deployed by the police headquarters.
The National Directorate for the Fight against Hooliganism has classified this meeting at level 3 out of 5, which represents "risks of disturbances to public order linked to a dispute between supporters".
Some members of Collectif Ultras Paris support the Palestinian cause.
A Palestinian flag and the banner “We hang out in strips like in Gaza” were brandished on August 13 at the Park by the group.
The CUP had boycotted outward travel to Israel in September, citing "excessive restrictions" imposed by local authorities.
The name of the Moroccan side of PSG Hachraf Hakimi, claimed support of Palestine, was chanted by the CUP during the warm-up on Tuesday.