November 7 – French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has branded the unveiling of a giant ‘Free Palestine’ banner at Paris Saint Germain’s Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night as “unacceptable”.
The incident came eight days before France take on Israel in Paris in a Nations League game and Retailleau said he would “demand explanations”.
‘War on the pitch, but peace in the world’, a message underneath the banner said whilst another message read: ‘Does a child’s life in Gaza mean less than another?’
PSG said it had not been aware of any plans to display the banner.
“Paris St Germain recalls 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,” the club said.
Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip has killed more than 43,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 100,000 according to health ministry figures.
France takes on Israel at the Stade de France next Thursday but questions have been raised on security surrounding the event in a country that has the largest Jewish community in Europe as well as the biggest number of Muslims.
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